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How Spring Mould Affects Our Breathing

Home is where people spend the majority of their time. Most people occupy their residences for up to 16 hours each day, making a safe environment a priority. When spring mould
latches onto indoor surfaces, the surroundings become a breeding ground for all sorts of illnesses that affect breathing.

Springtime is an opportune time for moulds to flourish. The last of winter’s snows melt away, and the spring showers add plenty of moisture to the environment. Since mould feeds on both oxygen and moisture-rich spaces, the dampness inside a home makes it a haven for spring mould growth.

Thousands of mould varieties grow in the typical Canadian home. Five of the most common indoor molds are Cladosporium (triggers asthmatic symptoms), Penicillium (causes allergies and asthma), Alternaria (causes allergies), Aspergillus (can provoke lung infections) and Stachybotrys (can cause severe breathing complications).

Mould spores are microscopic and therefore can be inhaled easily. The health consequences of prolonged bouts of breathing in mould spores can be detrimental, especially to individuals with existing respiratory conditions. Spring mould spores, whether living or non-living, have the ability to wreak havoc on an individual’s health.

Spring Mould Inflames Allergies

The moulds Alternaria and Cladosporium are the most infamous of all mould spores to cause allergies. Cladosporium flourishes in the great outdoors as well as the indoors. The airborne characteristic of the spores allows them to spread far and wide.

Different people experience varying sensitivities to mould. A few people, in the severest instances, develop asthma as a result of continuously inhaling mould spores. In the same vein, mould can spur the onset of allergies. If the individual suffered from allergies prior to breathing in mould, the spores can exacerbate the allergy symptoms.

People may experience allergy symptoms that are due to mould only a few months of the year or, alternately, year-round. Living with allergy-causing mould spores only intensifies the severity of the reaction.


Common responses to spring mould include nasal drip, tightness of the chest, sneezing, throat irritation, coughing, inflamed sinuses, fatigue, nausea, headaches and breathing difficulties. How overpowering these symptoms present themselves to be depends on the individual’s sensitivity to mould. For instance, babies, smokers and the elderly are more likely to have a stronger, adverse reaction to mould spores. The health of people with weakened immune systems, like those with respiratory conditions, is easily overtaken by inhaling mould spores.



How to Prevent Mould in the Spring

Flurries of invisible mould spores fly throughout the environment. There is no way to thwart the existence of mould. As a natural organism, mould is found everywhere, oftentimes serving as a beneficial resource by helping eat away decayed matter in the outdoors.

Homeowners should, however, limit the presence of indoor mould by keeping the interior of the home dry. Basement leaks, condensation around window frames and roof leaks should be fixed immediately to prevent excess moisture from seeping into the home. Without a constant water source to nourish them, mould spores have little chance of surviving.

Not only is mould not good for one’s health, but mould spores can destroy physical structures, like materials found in the home.  In addition to visible mould, other signs of damp problems may include: mould odour, water stains, frequent condensation, peeling or cracked paint or wall paper, damp basement, and standing water under or around the house. Before significant damage occurs to your health or your home, contact a reliable mould remediation service to consult on how to stop the spread of mould.

Professional mould technicians conduct an initial assessment regarding the extent of mould growth in your home. Hidden mould growth, such as infestations behind drywall and beneath wallpaper, can be identified using thermal technology and moisture meters. By keeping the affected rooms isolated, the mould remediation technicians ensure the spores do not contaminate other parts of the home. The specialists then use powerful cleaning solutions to remove mould from the premises.

Calling in a professional mould remediation company for immediate mould removal is advised as soon as you discover the mould problem. Attempting to clean the mould growth yourself may only cause the spores to spread to other rooms inside the home. Using bleach solutions will only clean the mould from the surface. It does not kill the spores or stop the spread of mould spores. 

Whether the mould growth is less than ten square feet or an all-encompassing one that invades a large expanse of your home, mould remediation professionals are prepared to eradicate the mould colonies for good.

Call Inspect it All Services if you suspect you may have mould in your home or business!

1-306-540-6832
inspectitall.ca



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