Mould growth and your health: Environmental Health - Victorian Government HealthInformation, Australia

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Mould growth and your health

Introduction

Flooding, excess moisture and pooled water can contribute to the growth of mould in your home, which may be a health risk for you and your family. When returning to your home, be aware of any visible mould or a musty smell. High mould levels are likely if the house has been flooded for more than 2 days.

Before you plan your cleanup, remember that not everyone is suited to working in damp, potentially mouldy conditions. Check that family members and volunteers who offer assistance are not sensitive to mould.

What is mould?

Moulds are fungi (like mushrooms), which are present at low levels virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. People are exposed to mould on a daily basis without harm.

Moulds need organic materials (eg. leaves, wood, paper or dirt) and moisture to grow. Mould is often green, grey, brown or black, and produces a musty smell. The most common indoor moulds are Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Aspergillus.

Moulds release countless tiny, lightweight spores, which travel through the air. This occurs when moulds are actively disturbed (during cleanup) or in dry conditions (when the house is being dried out). If mouldy materials and items are not removed or properly cleaned, high levels of airborne mould spores may be a health risk for mould-sensitive family members when they move back into the house.

Who may be sensitive to moulds?

Moulds can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate other respiratory and allergic conditions. Symptoms depend on the amount of airborne spores a person is exposed to and how sensitive they are to moulds.

The following people should avoid being present during post-flood cleaning or repair works:

Children (under 12 years, particularly infants)
Pregnant women
People over 65 years
Those with weakened immune systems; allergies; severe asthma; chronic, obstructive, or allergic lung diseases.

Possible health effects of mould exposure

People can be exposed by eating, breathing in or touching mould spores.
People sensitive to mould may experience stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing, or skin irritation.
People allergic to mould may have difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mould infections in their lungs.
If anyone develops health problems after exposure to mould, seek medical advice.

Do I need to test for moulds?

No. It is better to assume that the building’s interior is contaminated with moulds when:

It has been flooded for more than 2 days.
Visible mould growth is extensive (more than before the flood).
Visible water damage is present or mildew odours are strong.
The key to preventing mould growth is to clean up and dry out the house as quickly as possible (within 24 to 48 hours).

BEFORE cleaning or disposing of water or moulddamaged items, always seek expert advice from your insurance company.

What should I wear to protect myself from mould?

Just visiting:

If you are visiting your house to collect belongings, visually inspect for damage or to do basic cleanup over short periods:

Wear sturdy footwear, and rubber or leather gloves.
It is preferable that footwear is waterproof and has rubber soles.
It is not usually necessary to wear a respirator unless you are sensitive to mould.

Cleaning up mould:

If you plan to be inside the house for a while, or you intend to clean up mouldy areas, also wear a shower cap, goggles and a particulate respirator to prevent breathing in mould spores.

If you are asthmatic and intend to do the clean up work, keep your asthma medication with you at all times. If you show any signs of an asthma attack, seek immediate medical treatment.

What about wearing a respirator?

Special respirators (called ‘P1’ or ‘P2’) are suitable for filtering out airborne mould spores. They are available at most hardware stores.

Ordinary paper dust masks, handkerchiefs or bandannas are generally not useful in filtering out airborne mould spores.

Before deciding to wear a particulate respirator consider the following:

They can be hot and uncomfortable to wear.
If the seal around the face and mouth is poor (eg. people with beards cannot get a good seal), the respirator is much less effective.
The respirator does not filter out gases such as carbon monoxide.
They can make it harder for you to breath normally, so anyone with a pre-existing heart or lung condition should seek medical advice before using them.

Steps to minimise mould after a flood

Mould removal efforts should focus on:

Removing all sources of pooled water or excessive moisture from the home.
Removing all wet or flood damaged materials or items, including wallpaper, plasterboard, carpet, rugs, bedding, mattresses, furniture, stuffed toys, clothing, and other wet or damaged materials that cannot be adequately dried or cleaned.
Removing all porous (ie. soft or absorbent) materials with mould growth.
Temporarily storing damaged or discarded items outside the home (in a safe, clean, dry place such as a shed or garage) until your insurance claim is processed.
Cleaning and disinfecting all affected surfaces inside the house, including floors, walls, the kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
Allowing the house to dry throughout by airing or active drying (eg. fans or dehumidifiers).

Removing mould

Step 1 - clean

In many cases household cleaning products can do the job if used correctly. Check the product’s label to see how much to use, which surfaces they can be used on, as well as cautionary advice about mixing with other chemicals.

Tackle one room at a time. A two-bucket approach is most efficient: use one bucket for rinse water and the other for the cleaner. Rinse out your sponge, mop, or cleaning cloth in the rinse bucket. Wring it as dry as possible and keep it rolled up tight as you put it in the cleaner bucket. Using two buckets keeps most of the dirty rinse water out of your cleaning solution. Replace the rinse water frequently.

Apply cleaner and give it time to work before you mop or sponge it up. After cleaning a room or item, go over it again with a disinfectant to kill the germs and remove the smell left by floodwaters.

If the cleaner you are using does not remove the mould, try a solution of:

1.5 cups of household chlorine bleach in 10 Litres of water (the volume of a household bucket).

Never mix bleach with ammonia, ammonia containing, or any other cleaning product or detergent.

Do not use a bleach-based solution on aluminium, stainless steel surfaces or linoleum. Use a household detergent.

Step 2 Disinfect

Disinfect surfaces with a disinfectant product. Alternatively, use:

0.5 cups of household chlorine bleach in 10 Litres of water (the volume of a household bucket).

Drying out the house

When returning to your home after a flood, open doors and windows to let the house air out for as long as possible.

Once reliable, safe power is restored use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the house.

Air conditioning or central heating should not be used unless they are undamaged and uncontaminated by the floodwaters. If you suspect contamination with mould or floodwaters, do not use until these systems have been cleaned and checked by a qualified person.

For further information

If you or anyone in your family feels unwell, seek medical advice from your local doctor.
To talk to someone about the advice in this fact sheet contact the Environmental Health Unit of the Department of Human Services on 1300 761 874.

Other public health flood fact sheets