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What do the different colours of mould mean in my house?

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-taylor-228803">Michael Taylor</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></p> <p>You may be interested (or possibly horrified) to discover you ingest and inhale thousands of tiny life forms on a daily basis.</p> <p>The air and surfaces around you are home to multitudes of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978012394805200004X">bacteria, fungi, viruses</a>, mites, algae and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135400004206">protozoa</a>. Your skin isn’t much better, with a complex ecosystem of organisms called commensals which aren’t necessarily good or bad, but will shift in their composition depending on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature11053">where you live</a>, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/6/1/2">the products you use</a> and <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/458">the pets you have</a>.</p> <p>Most of these creatures are generally undetectable due to their microscopic size and low concentrations. But when they find a niche they can exploit, you might notice them by their smell, or the appearance of unwanted staining and colour changes. A lot of this fungal growth is what we call mould.</p> <p>We’ve all been disappointed in ourselves at one time or another, lifting a neglected orange out of the fruit bowl to discover the bottom half is covered in a velvety blue-green growth.</p> <p>But what do the myriad colours that appear on our stuff tell us about the world we try not to think about?</p> <h2>Black</h2> <p>Often black staining is quite a disturbing occurrence. The concept of toxic black mould is one many people have become aware of due to <a href="https://theconversation.com/fungi-after-the-floods-how-to-get-rid-of-mould-to-protect-your-health-111341">flood impacts</a>.</p> <p>A quick online search will likely terrify you, but not all black discolouration is due to the same organisms, and almost none of it will outright cause you harm.</p> <p><em>Stachybotrys</em> is the one known as toxic black mould. It often turns up on <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/pdf/10.1289/ehp.99107s3505">building materials that have been wet for a long time</a>.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=483&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=483&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533907/original/file-20230626-67275-zxd3ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=483&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A severely mouldy wall covered in grey and black blotches" /></a><figcaption></figcaption>When the grout in your shower turns black though, that’s a different fungus called <em><a href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/view/130453">Aureobasidium</a></em>. It’s slimy, sticky and somewhere between a filamentous mould, which grows threadlike roots through whatever it’s eating, and a yeast, which prefer a free-floating, single-celled style of life.</figure> <p>Bleaching will often kill <em>Aureobasidium</em>, but the dark pigmentation will likely hang around – harmlessly, but stubbornly.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=425&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=425&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533894/original/file-20230626-19-68wsem.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=425&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A close-up of white grout between grey tiles with black spots on it" /></a></figure> <h2>Blue</h2> <p>That blue orange I mentioned before, you can thank <em>Penicillium</em> for that. The organism that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168160512000852">gives us blue cheese</a> and the antibiotic penicillin is also responsible for producing a dense growth of mould that almost looks like smoke when disturbed, spreading millions of spores onto the rest of your fruit bowl.</p> <p><em>Penicillium</em> is a big group with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166061620300129">hundreds of species</a>, ranging from recognised pathogens to species yet to be named. However, the ones that turn up in our homes are generally the same “weed” species that simply cause food spoilage or grow in soil.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533895/original/file-20230626-107392-7jinnz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Close-up of a bright orange with a fuzzy blue mould spot on it" /></a></figure> <h2>Yellow and orange</h2> <p>We often think of fungi as organisms that thrive in the dark, but that’s not always true. In fact, some need exposure to light – and ultraviolet (UV) light in particular – to complete their life cycle.</p> <p>Many plant pathogens use UV light exposure as a trigger to produce their spores, and then protect their DNA by <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0003683814020094">hiding it behind melanin-containing shells</a>.</p> <p><em>Stemphylium</em> and <em>Epicoccum</em> turn up in our homes from time to time, often hitching a ride on natural fibres such as jute, hemp and hessian. They produce a spectrum of staining that can often turn damp items yellow, brown or orange.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533948/original/file-20230626-15121-eh3869.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A piece of wood laminate with yellow patches on it" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>We’re all fairly familiar with the green spots that turn up on mouldy bread, cake and other food items. Often we try to convince ourselves if we just cut off the bad bit, we can still salvage lunch.</p> <p>Sadly that’s not the case, as the roots of the fungi – collectively called mycelium – spread through the food, digesting and collecting sufficient nutrients to pop out a series of tiny fruiting bodies which produce the coloured spores you see.</p> <p>The green tuft is often from a group of fungi called <em>Aspergillus</em>. Under the microscope they look rather like the puffy top of a dandelion gone to seed.</p> <p>Like <em>Penicillium</em>, <em>Aspergillus</em> is another big fungal group with lots of species that turn up virtually in every environment. Some are <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mmy/article/43/Supplement_1/S87/1748298">heat tolerant</a>, some <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21553769.2015.1033653">love acid</a> and some will happily produce spores that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1749461311000406">stay airborne for days to months at a time</a>.</p> <p>In the green gang is also a fungus called <em>Trichoderma</em>, which is Latin for “hairy skin”. <em>Trichoderma</em> produces masses of forest-green, spherical spores which tend to grow on wet cardboard or dirty carpet.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533897/original/file-20230626-160496-7cuh4q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A pile of green grains on a small round tray" /></a></figure> <h2>Pink, purple and red</h2> <p>There are plenty to speak of in this category. And there is also a common bacterium that makes the list.</p> <p><em>Neurospora</em>, also known as the red bread mould, is one of the most studied fungi in scientific literature. It’s another common, non-hazardous one that has been used as <a href="https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3732/ajb.1400377">a model organism</a> to observe fungal genetics, evolution and growth.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533913/original/file-20230626-24-eh3869.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A block of orange mouldy substance sitting on a banana leaf" /></a><figcaption></figcaption><em>Fusarium</em> is less common indoors, being <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261219416302794">an important crop pathogen</a>, but will sometimes turn spoiled rice purple. It also occasionally turns up on wet cement sheet, causing splotchy violet patches. <em>Fusarium</em> makes large, sticky, moon-shaped spores that have evolved to spread by rain splashes and hang onto plants. However, it is fairly bad at getting airborne and so doesn’t tend to spread very far from where it’s growing.</figure> <p>Finally in this category, that pink scum that turns up around bathroom taps or in the shower? It’s actually a bacterium called <em>Serratia</em>. It will happily chew up the soap scum residue left over in bathrooms, and has been shown to <a href="https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/AEM.02632-10">survive in liquid soaps and handwash</a>.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=337&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=337&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=337&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533900/original/file-20230626-98733-ggql6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Close-up of white tile grout covered in a pink translucent film" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2>White</h2> <p>When fungi were first being classified and were eventually given their own phylogenetic kingdom, there were lots of wonderful and not strictly categorical ways we tried to split them up. One of these was hyaline and non-hyaline, essentially referring to transparent and coloured, respectively.</p> <p>One of the interesting non-pigmented moulds you may well catch sight of is a thing called <em>Isaria farinosa</em> (“farinosa” being Latin for “floury”). This fungus is a parasite of some moths and cicadas and is visible as brilliant white, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09583150802471812">tree-shaped growths on their unfortunate hosts</a>.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533911/original/file-20230626-72187-xubf6k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A dead bug on a green forest floor with white and yellow growths sticking out of it" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>So when you notice the world around you changing colour, you can marvel with your newfound knowledge at the microscopic wonders that live complex lives alongside yours. Then maybe clean it up, and give the fruit bowl a wash. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207737/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty / Shutterstock</em></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-taylor-228803">Michael Taylor</a>, Adjunct academic, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-do-the-different-colours-of-mould-mean-in-my-house-207737">original article</a>.</p>

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Breaking the mould: why rental properties are more likely to be mouldy and what’s needed to stop people getting sick

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-bentley-173502">Rebecca Bentley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-willand-441807">Nicola Willand</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-law-1438482">Tim Law</a></em></p> <p>Rental properties are more <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8835129/">likely be mouldy</a> than other homes. This is a concern as excessive mould growth is known to <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789289041683">harm human health</a>.</p> <p>Once buildings are infested with mould, the difficult and costly issue of remediation arises. Landlords and tenants are caught in the middle of a tussle over who is responsible for fixing the problem. As one Melbourne renter and research participant told our colleague Maria Gatto, during a study validating mould reporting:</p> <blockquote> <p>The landlord came around [and] walked [into] every room where there’s black mould on the ceiling – like it’s freaking [something out of the TV series] Stranger Things – and she’s like, ‘Oh, a little bit of mould in winter, it’s very normal, it’s fine […] this happens every winter, it’s not a big deal’.</p> </blockquote> <p>Heading into winter, after <a href="https://theconversation.com/la-nina-3-years-in-a-row-a-climate-scientist-on-what-flood-weary-australians-can-expect-this-summer-190542">three consecutive La Niñas</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/sudden-mould-outbreak-after-all-this-rain-youre-not-alone-but-you-are-at-risk-177820">conditions are ripe</a> for a mega-mould season. Combining our expertise in health, law, building and construction, we examine the problem of mould in homes and offer guidance for both renters and landlords.</p> <h2>Ideal conditions for growth</h2> <p>Mould is a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/whatismold.html">fungal growth</a> that reproduces via tiny airborne particles called spores. When these spores settle on moist, plant-based construction materials such as wood, wallpaper or plasterboard, they can form a new colony.</p> <p>Growth is more likely when homes are cold, humid, lack air flow, or suffer from water damage. Outbreaks have been reported in flooded parts of southeastern Australia.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sD2Ij_QlzwA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Black mould an invisible threat growing behind walls of flood-affected homes (ABC News)</span></figcaption></figure> <p>So why is the problem of household mould worse in rentals? <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/338">Weak regulation of tenancy legislation</a> is just one of many factors. Rental properties tend to be poorly maintained, with <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/338">structural problems</a> such as leaks. Given this, they can be expensive to heat.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=422&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=422&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=422&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=531&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=531&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526246/original/file-20230515-19465-odirz2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=531&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A chart showing the percentage of homes with structural defects in each category" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Rental homes have more structural defects than owner-occupied homes.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/338">Nicola Willand, using data from Moore et. al., (2020), Warm, cool and energy-affordable housing policy solutions for low-income renters, AHURI Final Report, vol. no. 338. Appendix 2</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>How mould makes people sick</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789289041683">World Health Organization</a> recognises mould can be harmful.</p> <p>A 2022 Asthma Australia <a href="https://asthma.org.au/what-we-do/advocacy/housing/">report</a> revealed people living in mouldy homes were more likely to have asthma and allergies. A systematic review of peer-reviewed research found <a href="https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/4/812">children living in mouldy homes</a> were more likely to experience asthma, wheeze and allergic irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and mouth (allergic rhinitis).</p> <p>Living with mould is a source of stress. People worry about the consequences for their health and there is a growing body of evidence describing the <a href="https://jech.bmj.com/content/50/1/56">negative mental health effects</a> of mouldy, damp homes.</p> <h2>Problems with managing mould in the rental sector</h2> <p>There is a gap between building and residential tenancies legislation. A building deemed to meet the minimum standards of the construction code with respect to mould may not meet the minimum standards for rental. That’s because there’s ambiguity in the <a href="https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/">National Construction Code</a> around “minimum standards of health”.</p> <p>For example the Victorian <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/building-act-1993/136">Building Act 1993</a> contains some provisions for the relevant surveyor to serve a notice on the basis of a health circumstance affecting a user. However, there is no guidance on how to assess the health of the indoor environment, or to deliver a building direction that will address the root cause for mould. This varies by state and territory.</p> <p>Mould remediation can be costly. A <a href="https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/about/research/examining-indoor-mould-and-moisture-damage-in-victorian-residential-buildings">study</a> by Victoria University found half the defects causing mould were water-related. These were more expensive to fix than other problems, by an average of A$7,000.</p> <p>Each winter, <a href="https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/common-problems/mould-and-damp/">Tenants Victoria</a> deals with a spike in renters seeking legal help to resolve their mould problems. This led to the service launching an annual winter Mould Clinic in 2021.</p> <p>Despite increased legal protections, renters are still struggling to get mould fixed. For these reasons, many renters find the legal process doesn’t offer a solution to their problem, and instead move to a new property, with all its attendant costs and stresses. Others can’t afford to leave, or live in social housing with limited transfer options.</p> <h2>Charting mould in homes across Australia</h2> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525848/original/file-20230512-21-xb83ft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A bar chart comparing the prevalence of mould in homes across Australian states and territories" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Mould is more prevalent in rentals compared to owner-occupied dwellings. Mould is most commonly reported in New South Wales. The difference between owners and renters is greatest in the ACT.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Australian Housing Conditions Dataset 2022 doi:10.26193/SLCU9J</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Where does the responsibility lie?</h2> <p>Tenancy legislation varies by state and territory. Renters should familiarise themselves with the regulations in their jurisdiction.</p> <p>In Victoria, <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/residential-tenancies-act-1997/101">residential tenancies legislation</a> has set the criteria that “each room in the rented premises must be free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure”. Landlords now must disclose if they have treated mould in the past three years.</p> <p>Similarly, <a href="https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/rental-law-changes">new legislation in Queensland</a> (coming into effect in September) states rental properties should be free from vermin, damp and mould where this is caused by issues with the structural soundness of the property.</p> <p>In New South Wales, the landlord needs to <a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting/during-a-tenancy/health,-safety-and-security">disclose signs of mould</a> and dampness in the condition report (but not necessarily have fixed it). Mould is not mentioned in the <a href="https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1997-84/">ACT residential tenancies legislation</a>.</p> <p>For the most part, the responsibility for mould in rental properties lies with landlords if the cause is structural –- for example, if a broken or faulty window frame has let rainwater inside.</p> <p>Requests for urgent repairs can be accompanied by an assessment report by an occupational hygienist, environmental health professional or expert from the local council. People with an existing health condition such as asthma can include a doctor’s report.</p> <h2>What next?</h2> <p>To achieve change across all relevant domains of regulation, construction, natural disaster response and government policy, we need a sustainable, broad healthy <a href="https://www.healthyhousing-cre.org">housing agenda in Australia</a>. We also need to consider options for immediate action.</p> <p>As one Victorian renter noted:</p> <blockquote> <p>When we buy a car for the purpose of driving on the roads, we’re required to get a roadworthy certificate to make sure it’s safe, because of the risk to other people […] Ideally it would be great if there was [some] kind of ‘rentworthy’ certificate […] to demonstrate that the property has been inspected, to identify any structural issues that might affect the tenant’s health and wellbeing. And that that be available to tenants […] before they enter into a lease or before (the property is) even able to be advertised.</p> </blockquote> <p><em>Quotes in this article were collected by Maria Gatto as part of her Masters of Public Health, conducted at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health in 2022.</em><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205472/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-bentley-173502">Rebecca Bentley</a>, Professor of Social Epidemiology and Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-willand-441807">Nicola Willand</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-law-1438482">Tim Law</a>, Guest lecturer and Practice Lead — Building Sciences, at Restoration Industry Consultants</em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/breaking-the-mould-why-rental-properties-are-more-likely-to-be-mouldy-and-whats-needed-to-stop-people-getting-sick-205472">original article</a>.</em></p>

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5 ways to deal with winter mould

<p>As we move warm our homes in winter, ventilation problems can lead to condensation and the arrival of everyone’s least favourite houseguest – mould.</p> <p>Here are five tips to help you kick winter mould to the curb.</p> <p><strong>1. Install an exhaust fan</strong></p> <p>This is particularly important in the bathrooms of older homes. As, be sure to leave it on a couple of minutes after your sure, to ensure you get rid of all the moisture.</p> <p><strong>2. Dry wet materials immediately</strong></p> <p>Mould can appear in days if given the right conditions, so make sure you dry any wet towels or other damp materials as soon as you can to prevent its spread.</p> <p><strong>3. Disinfecting surfaces</strong></p> <p>Surfaces like sinks and floors that are often quite wet, need to be cleaned regularly to ensure mould doesn’t spread, and must be dried after cleaning.</p> <p><strong>4. Improve light and ventilation</strong></p> <p>Mould can’t grow in dry, brightly lit areas so try to keep windows and doors open as much as possible to minimise that chance of it occurring.</p> <p><strong>5. Double-glazing tricks</strong></p> <p>Double-glazing your windows is an effective means to prevent condensation, but it’s also expensive. A simple, temporary alternative is covering window with bubble wrap. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Family forced to live in a tent after mould infestation makes house "unliveable"

<p>A family of five have been forced to live in a tent in their backyard after their home was overrun with an infestation of black mould that was making their children sick. </p> <p>Andrew Walsh-Baldwin and his wife Angalina took the drastic measure to move into the backyard of their $480,000 property in Victoria after the toxic mould in their newly purchased home caused all three of their young kids to fall ill.</p> <p>Their home has been rendered "unliveable" by construction experts, who said their home has not allowed for proper drainage during the unprecedented amount of rain. </p> <p>Ms Walsh-Baldwin broke down in tears when talking to Nine News, as she said "it's been freezing" living in the tent.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A family of five is living in a tent, after heavy rain caused black mould to flourish in their home. </p> <p>Serious building defects in the newly purchased property are also contributing to the spread, which is making the kids sick. <a href="https://twitter.com/reid_butler9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reid_butler9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/IR1AqLNpI3">pic.twitter.com/IR1AqLNpI3</a></p> <p>— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1594595429681098759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>"This was supposed to be our home," she said.</p> <p>Her husband Baldwin said, "The other week we got 190ml (of rain). I can't believe... we've got to this point."</p> <p>"The kids have been getting sick and missed a full term of kinder," he said. "You just feel inadequate now because, as a parent, we've failed."</p> <p>Dr Cameron Jones of Biological Health Services, who inspected the house, said it was among the worst cases of mould he'd ever seen. </p> <p>"When I've done moisture testing on the timbers, they're showing anywhere from 20 to 30 per cent plus," he said, before revealing the safe level is a maximum of 15 per cent.</p> <p>Building inspector Zeher Khalil, who is helping the family out free of charge, said what he found at the house is "unbelievable". </p> <p>"To pay $480,000 for this house, I mean I just feel like I've been ripped off," he said.</p> <p>The family is insured with Allianz, but their claims were rejected because the company said the defects were pre-existing, with Ms Walsh-Baldwin saying, "We've got rights too."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>

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5 silent signs you’re being exposed to mould

<h2>The damaging effects of moul</h2> <p>Sneezing, coughing, feeling down and tired? While these sensations might make you think cold or fall allergy symptoms, you may want to keep an eye on how you feel over time. If they tend to linger or get worse whenever you’re at home, this could be a sign that you’re being exposed to mould.</p> <p>We spoke with Michael Rubino, a mould and air quality authority as well as author of The Mould Medic, an Expert’s Guide on Mould Removal. Rubino points out that in addition to respiratory issues, mould exposure has actually been linked to early onset dementia and Alzheimer’s in previous research. “We spend 90% of our time indoors,” he says. “We’re learning new things every day about all the effects our homes can have on our health, but all signs are kind of leading into the same place – that if we want to improve our health, the air we breathe has a very profound effect on it.”</p> <p>It’s true: especially if you haven’t been paying attention to the sneaky spots mould grows, being exposed to mould over time can lead to serious consequences. While routinely cleaning is extremely important for controlling the mould in your home, also be aware of these silent signs of mould exposure before any illness gets worse.</p> <h2>You may experience allergy-like symptoms</h2> <p>While allergies are growing more common, allergy-like symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and throat, stuffy nose, skin irritation and rashes are also early signs of mould exposure – also known as mould toxicity. “Usually it starts off with unusual allergies,” says Rubino. “They notice they’re getting sick more frequently; maybe their nose is stuffy [or] they’re having allergic-type symptoms.”</p> <p>Rubino says these mould exposure symptoms can pop up with various timelines – sometimes immediately, or sometimes with delayed reactions. If you’re experiencing chronic allergy-like symptoms while you’re at home, talk with your doctor.</p> <h2>You may have trouble breathing</h2> <p>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to mould can also trigger asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing. This can be a common symptom of mould exposure even for those who don’t experience allergies on a seasonal basis.</p> <p>The CDC also points to previous research that found exposure to mould can make any pre-existing asthma worse.</p> <h2>You may feel fatigued</h2> <p>Let’s face it: fatigue is a common symptom for lots of us. But Rubino points out that feeling fatigued is also a common result of exposure to mould at home.</p> <p>A 2013 study published in Toxins found exposure to different kinds of mould – especially mycotoxins, the kind of mould that can grow on food as well as under warm and humid conditions within the home – can cause feelings of chronic fatigue.</p> <h2>You may experience brain fog</h2> <p>Along with fatigue, being exposed to mould can also cause feelings of brain fog, which results in feeling sluggish and even forgetful. Rubino points out that it is typically a result of inflammation the body is experiencing when exposed to mould: “You start to experience gut issues due to the inflammation that mould and toxins can cause. Gut inflammation can lead to brain inflammation which then can cause a whole host of neuropsychiatric symptoms.”</p> <p>Experts point out that mould is an irritant to the body that can cause an inflammatory response. Just as one example, one 2009 neuropsychology study suggested that when the brain is chronically inflamed due to mould exposure, this can even lead to long-term cognitive impairment.</p> <h2>You may feel particularly anxious or depressed</h2> <p>“We are seeing a lot of studies that show that [mould is] impacting people’s mental health [through] people’s anxiety and depression,” Rubino says. According to an article published through Environmental Health Perspectives, those who are exposed to damp, mouldy households have a 34% to 44% higher risk of depression.</p> <p>Further studies in recent years, such as one in 2020, have demonstrated that mould exposure can increase anxiety-like behaviour.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/5-silent-signs-youre-being-exposed-to-mould" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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"Total nightmare": Family of four kicked out of "disgusting" rental home

<p>A family of four are facing the reality of becoming homeless after being kicked out of their rental property for complaining to their landlord about mould making them sick.</p> <p>Kiara Spiteri-Whitney and her family, who were renting a home in St Mary's in western Sydney, said their home was inundated with mould, which rapidly spread throughout the home and grew in the bedrooms, kitchen and living area and covered the beds, cupboards and lounge sofa.</p> <p>Ms Spiteri-Whitney, her partner Corey and two children, including one living with ADHD and autism, became sick, prompting her to raise the issue with the landlord.</p> <p>After asking the landlord for help, they were told they need to leave the house and were given a mere 20 days to find a new property. </p> <p>Since moving into the home in 2018, Kiara said there was a list of issues that were never tended to by her landlord. </p> <p>When the family moved in, they thought they were moving into a clean and tidy rental. </p> <p>"At first, everything was going smoothly, but after three months in the property, everything became a total nightmare," she wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>"When we come for the open home a back shed was completely open and accessible to view."</p> <p>"So myself and my partner thought it was perfect, he could use the back shed for a man cave for him and our two boys. During open home all applicants were advised that new carpets, dishwasher and blinds were being put in."</p> <p>Despite the promising open house viewings, the family's hopes were shattered when they moved in and found the house with leaking taps, no hot water and windows without fly screens. </p> <p>"We moved into the property to find out the back shed had been nailed shut and wasn't accessible," she wrote.</p> <p>"Throughout our four and a half year tenancy we have had nothing but consent issue's throughout the property. For our whole tenancy we have had three consent running taps with barely any hot water pressure."</p> <p>"So trying to have a decent hot bath is absolutely pointless. We have had no fly screens in all three bedrooms. So opening bedroom windows for ventilation hasn't been an option."</p> <p>Kiara also said the carpets were also "putrid" and were pulling up from the floorboards.</p> <p>"There has been a serious mould issue throughout the property. The tiles around our home are breaking away," she wrote.</p> <p>After receiving an eviction notice out of the blue, she has less than three weeks to find a new home for her family. </p> <p>"Absolutely disgusting and I honestly wouldn't wish this on anybody," she said.</p> <p>"With only 20 day's left to find another property in a major rental crisis. Competing against people with higher income and more to clearly offer."</p> <p>"I'm seriously scared my children are going to be homeless and there is absolutely nothing, nothing I can do about it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News / Facebook</em></p>

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People are shivering in cold and mouldy homes in a country that pioneered housing comfort research – how did that happen?

<p>The poor state of Australia’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-18/apartment-owners-sound-alarm-over-alleged-building-defects/101247114">residential</a>, and particularly <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-16/australian-first-study-mould-biotoxin-illness/101223548">rental</a>, housing stock is attracting increasing attention. This week it has been reported many renters are living in <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-16/renters-shiver-below-minimum-healthy-temperature-report-finds/101333256">unhealthily cold</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/16/australian-rental-homes-colder-and-more-damp-than-who-safety-standards">damp housing</a>. The head of UNSW’s School of the Built Environment, Philip Oldfield, recently <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/13/freezing-indoors-thats-because-australian-homes-are-closer-to-tents-than-insulated-eco-buildings">described</a> the average Australian home as “closer to a tent than an insulated eco-building”. </p> <p>A <a href="https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/Web/Content/Media_Release/National/2022/Over%20100%20organisations%20join%20forces%20in%20push%20for%20improved%20energy%20efficiency%20in%20Australian%20homes.aspx">joint statement</a> by more than 100 property, community, health and environmental organisations has called on next week’s meeting of the nation’s building ministers to increase the energy efficiency of new homes. The alliance wants to lift National Construction Code standards, such as raising the minimum thermal performance to seven stars, alongside a “whole-of-home” energy budget. The statement said Australia <a href="https://www.energymagazine.com.au/room-for-improvement-australia-and-germany-swap-notes-on-energy-efficiency-reform/">lags far behind</a> international energy-efficiency and building standards.</p> <p>These concerns coincide with a growing housing shortage, rising building costs and a changing climate. But these circumstances are no reason to defer housing reforms. In the past, in a remarkably similar set of circumstances, Australia became a global innovator through a dedicated government agency focused on thermal comfort and performance. </p> <h2>We once led the way in building for the climate</h2> <p>We must go back to the second world war, though, to see Australia at the vanguard of housing built for the climate. The Ministry of Post-war Reconstruction’s substantial and alarm-raising <a href="https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-851519579/view?partId=nla.obj-851583656">Commonwealth Housing Report</a>of 1944 had forecast a shortfall of 300,000 dwellings by war’s end. On top of a materials shortage and a rapidly growing population, Chifley’s Labor government was keen to tackle the housing crisis head-on and to demonstrate Australia’s scientific prowess across a range of technical industries. </p> <p>As the magnitude of the looming housing shortage became clear, a group of architects established a Small House Bureau to reinvigorate the housing landscape. In Victoria, the director was celebrated architect Robin Boyd. He advocated for smaller homes, notably if the main building material could be earth. </p> <p>Boyd <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206872165?searchTerm=The%20materials%20are%20already%20on%20%E2%80%98your%20vacant%20building%20site">told a growing readership</a> desperate for cost-effective and accessible alternatives that earth walls were “cheap, strong, weatherproof, and highly insulating”. The materials are already on “your vacant building site”, he cried. Thus, it seemed reasonable to “make it of mud!”.</p> <p>At the same time, the Commonwealth Experimental Building Station was set up on 16 hectares of bushland in Ryde, north of Sydney. Its mandate was to carry out experimental construction in different climatic and geographic locations. It was also to advise regulators, housing authorities and government departments. </p> <p>Engineers, builders, architects and the public welcomed the innovative scientific approach to housing design across the nation’s varied and extreme weather and seasonal conditions. Post-war architects and scientists were keen to place a climatically defined framework on both the layout and construction of Australian homes.</p> <p>One of the station’s main directives was to address “heating, lighting, ventilation, sound and thermal transmission, and performance generally”. The station developed an advanced thermal modelling program to enhance indoor comfort. The modelling took into account solar radiation, the value of shading, strategic ventilation and insulation.</p> <p>Amidst a slew of controlled experiments, the station’s chief technical officer, English architect and engineer George Middleton, championed the practical application of earth walls. Following a scoping tour of England, America, Russia and across Australia, Middleton examined the structural integrity, durability and effective function of “Pisé” or rammed earth. </p> <p>A devotee of the aesthetic qualities and durability of earth, he produced several technical papers that placed earth walls “high among the accepted building methods”.</p> <p>Continuing to advocate for earth over prefabricated materials, Middleton released Build Your House of Earth in 1953. It remains the authoritative text on rammed-earth building in Australia. </p> <p>In just a few short years, the station researched, experimented and built dozens of prototypes. Its thermal response analysis tool (replicated 20 years later by UK building authorities) was ground-breaking.</p> <h2>Australia needs to make up lost ground</h2> <p>Despite the station’s record of achievement, its funding for such investigations was cut in 1955. Some thermal investigations were all but abandoned. Without ongoing testing and field application, the capacity to influence material and performance standards waned. </p> <p>The station did continue to provide regulations and standards for building systems and materials, and it was restructured in the mid-1980s into the National Building Technology Centre. It was later absorbed into CSIRO’s Division of Building, Construction and Engineering, which still oversees the Building Code of Australia. </p> <p>At the centre of building research in Australia, the station was innovative and experimental. It was created decades before the energy conservation movement began to investigate building efficiency <a href="https://neep.org/blog/reflecting-history-energy-efficiency-while-looking-future">in North America and England</a>. </p> <p>But our innovation and desire for experimentation have faded. Decades of industry lobbying, <a href="https://theconversation.com/buck-passing-on-apartment-building-safety-leaves-residents-at-risk-119000">toothless enforcement</a>, a lack of investment in and subsidies for refurbishing existing dwellings, and an outdated rating scheme (<a href="https://www.nathers.gov.au/">NatHERS</a>) have left many Australians out <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-16/renters-shiver-below-minimum-healthy-temperature-report-finds/101333256">in the cold</a>.</p> <p>In a continent notorious for its extremes, it is time to invest again in thermal research and testing. Australia needs to build resilience into new and existing houses. In a rapidly changing climate, we must consider the capacity and efficiency of earth and other natural materials as a viable and proven alternative to prefabricated materials.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-are-shivering-in-cold-and-mouldy-homes-in-a-country-that-pioneered-housing-comfort-research-how-did-that-happen-188809" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

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The 15 minute hack to reduce bathroom mould

<p dir="ltr">When it comes to mould, bathrooms are often the first place the pesky growth will show up. </p> <p dir="ltr">While we can’t do anything about the sheer volume of mould spores in the air, we can control the environment. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mould thrives in cold and damp areas, which make bathrooms the logical place it would show up first. </p> <p dir="ltr">Prevention is better than a cure, so when it comes to mould, taking preventative measures will set you up for success. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to John Liddell, the managing director at The Mould Doctor, reducing extra moisture is a must.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If a property is damp from condensation, building defects or inadequate ventilation, the humidity will be elevated,” says John. </p> <p dir="ltr">“When the humidity in a living space exceeds 55%, the conditions are ideal for mould."</p> <p dir="ltr">According to information on the Mould Doctor website, a significant cause of elevated humidity levels in a home is steam escaping from the bathroom.</p> <p dir="ltr">While running the exhaust while you are showering can help, it isn’t always enough. </p> <p dir="ltr">The key is to leave it on after you’ve finished and left the bathroom. </p> <p dir="ltr">The length of time you need to leave the exhaust on will vary, but around 15-20 minutes should be enough to eliminate that extra moisture.</p> <p dir="ltr">As well as this, using dehumidifiers and air conditioning units can help get rid of extra moisture, banishing the growth of mould in your home. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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4 ways to dehumidify your home

<p dir="ltr">Normally welcomed in some parts of the country, the recent rain has brought an influx of another, spottier problem into our homes: mould.</p> <p dir="ltr">Reducing the humidity in the air is one of the best ways to keep mould at bay - which has seen dehumidifiers become a hot commodity and a rare find.</p> <p dir="ltr">But before you start on your quest to find one of those elusive devices, here are some simple DIY options you can try to stave off those pesky black spots.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>1. Silica gel packets</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Instead of throwing away these tiny sachets in your packets of food, new electronics, or bottles of vitamins, keep them in a plastic container and poke some holes in the lid to create your own dehumidifier.</p> <p dir="ltr">The packets contain silicon dioxide in its gel form, which is made up of millions of tiny pores that can absorb and hold moisture.</p> <p dir="ltr">Place the container wherever it’s needed and be sure to keep it out of reach of kids and pets.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>2. Rock salt dehumidifier</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Salt is another easy (and cheap) option for absorbing moisture - and all you’ll need to make your own rock salt dehumidifier is just two buckets and some salt.</p> <p dir="ltr">First, cut some holes in the first bucket and place it inside the second bucket. Then, fill the first bucket with salt and it’s ready to use - though you will need to empty the outer bucket as it fills up with liquid.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>3. Baking soda</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Baking soda is just good for baking, and you can add dehumidifying to its list of handy uses.</p> <p dir="ltr">It works best in small spaces, like the tops of wardrobes or cupboards, and is as simple as filling a small bowl with baking soda and replacing it as needed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>4. Plants</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">On top of adding some greenery to your spaces, certain kinds of plants can also reduce the amount of moisture in the air.</p> <p dir="ltr">Plants with waxy or hairy leaves, such as cacti, or those with large leaves are your best choice, with top picks including peace lilies, lilacs, spider plants, aloe vera, English ivy, air plants and Boston ferns.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7c3b500f-7fff-93c2-8390-4a631b1f4e42"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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How to deal with mould outbreaks this winter

<p dir="ltr">The recent downpour of rain mixed with humid temperatures has led to nation-wide mould outbreaks in many homes. </p> <p dir="ltr">Toxic mould can take a toll on your health, and hijack hidden corners of your home without you even realising. </p> <p dir="ltr">In order to reproduce, mould produces tiny particles called spores that are carried in the air and may cause health problems if inhaled by people who are sensitive or allergic to them, <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/mould.aspx">NSW Health advises</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Experts have shared how to spot mould in your home, as well as how to clean it and prevent it from coming back. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>What exactly is mould?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/mould.aspx">Mould</a> is a type of fungi, an organism from the same group that includes yeast and mushrooms, which is present virtually everywhere both indoors and outdoors.</p> <p dir="ltr">When airborne mould spores land on damp spots indoors, they may begin to grow and spread.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mould thrives in moist areas that are not adequately ventilated, with rooms such as laundries, bathrooms most at risk, as well as walls and ceilings that don’t receive direct sunlight. </p> <p dir="ltr">Wet weather, increased humidity, and flood damage have seen households across the country battling recent mould outbreaks in their homes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>How do I stop mould from growing in my house?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Experts say that prevention is much more effective than mould removal, with the key being to keep your home dry and dust-free.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fix any structural damage</span></p> <p dir="ltr">Leaks in roofs, full gutters and leaky appliances are all things that will bring mould into your home. </p> <p dir="ltr">Fixing these issues as soon as they arise is vital, as you want to aim to keep the main structure of your home free of any spontaneous leaks.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you do notice any leaks, get on top of that immediately because dried mould can still become easily airborne,” consultation microbiologist Dr Cameron Jones told <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/mould-is-coming-back-with-a-vengeance-heres-how-to-tackle-the-outbreak-c-6840176">7News</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s how people can become quite ill from mould which has dried inside roof voids and dried on insulation - and then it enters into the home around the perimeters and downlights.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ventilation is key</span></p> <p dir="ltr">Keeping your home well ventilated is your best bet when preventing the growth of mould. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jones says that for good ventilation in the home, you can try, “opening windows, and making sure that ceiling fans in wet areas like laundries and bathrooms are on and working.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“As soon as the weather is good, you should start opening your windows and get some ventilation through,” Institute for Infectious Diseases Professor Dee Carter told 7News.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Drying things out is really key or it’ll just come back.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Some air conditioners have a handy dry mode, while portable dehumidifiers also work to draw in extra moisture from the air.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cut condensation</span></p> <p dir="ltr">Use extractor fans in the kitchen while cooking, and in the bathroom and laundry while washing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Reducing the condensation in your home can also be as simple as popping a lid on your saucepan when boiling water, and opening windows when you’re creating steam within the house.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you see condensation building on walls and inner windows, wipe it up before it has the chance to encourage growth of mould.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Getting rid of mould</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">For a routine clean-up of mould, NSW Health suggests using mild detergent or vinegar.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bleach can be used on non-porous surfaces such as tiles and in bathrooms but is not recommended for materials like wood or drywall.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mould has roots that it sends deep into porous materials, so antibacterial agents work best to attack the roots as well as the surface of the fungi.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you see a spot of mould in one particular place, it’s always best to do a clean sweep of the entire room to see if it is hiding anywhere else. </p> <p dir="ltr">Move all your furniture away from the wall and check hidden crevices. </p> <p dir="ltr">There’s nothing worse than thinking your cleaning job is done and then finding a huge mouldy patch behind your lounge or bed frame. </p> <p dir="ltr">In order to stop your furniture being attacked by pesky mould, try to keep your furniture an inch or two out from the wall. </p> <p dir="ltr">This will stop the mould transferring from walls to surfaces such as fabric that are harder to clean. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Can mould be killed permanently?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Even if you successfully get rid of mould in one area, you’ll need to maintain the conditions of your home continuously to discourage regrowth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mould can grow wherever there is moisture source, the correct temperature, and something to grow on,” Jones said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Cellular debris and the food and liquid waste” are also used as a food source by “the pathogens, which are normally around us all the time”, Jones said.</p> <p dir="ltr">If mould grows in a spot once, it can grow there again. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Is mould harmful to humans?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">A 2018 inquiry by the University of Melbourne recommended that the Department of Health undertake further research into the potential health effects of mould exposure and its prevalence in the built environment.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.mouldlab.com.au/">MouldLab</a> defined biotoxins at the time as including “toxic chemicals found on spores, fine or ultrafine fragments of mould or fungus … that are able to be released into the air”.</p> <p dir="ltr">They stated that some people are “genetically susceptible” and may develop inflammation and chronic illness after coming into contact with these biotoxins.</p> <p dir="ltr">Reported <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/black-mold-exposure#symptoms">symptoms of mould exposure</a> include coughing, wheezing, stuffiness, red or itchy eyes, skin rashes, and a sore throat.</p> <p dir="ltr">These symptoms can be more severe if you have an allergy to mould.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Home & Garden

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A comprehensive guide to removing mould from household items

<p dir="ltr">Due to the humid conditions, including the wet and rainy seasons mould is popping up everywhere. There’s nothing like decluttering your wardrobe and discovering spores all over your favorite jackets and sneakers. Instead of throwing everything out, why not try salvaging them?</p> <p dir="ltr">Here are the four common household items that will remove mould:</p> <h3 dir="ltr">1. Hot water</h3> <p dir="ltr">One of the simplest ways to remove mildew from fabric is to wash them in hot water. Before washing anything, check the care labels first to see if a hot wash is suitable. Then set the water temperature on your washing machine as high as you can for at least 10-30 minutes.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although a hot wash will kill the mould and mildew, it won't remove the stains or prevent the mould returning. Its best to remove the stains before you dry the clothes as once dried the stains are harder to move.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">2. Vinegar and baking soda</h3> <p dir="ltr">A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is quite effective at killing mould and works as a great stain remover too. Mix 2 parts baking soda to 1 part of white vinegar and add this to a bucket of hot water and soak the clothes in it before washing them. However, do not mix vinegar and bleach as this combination can release a dangerous gas. </p> <p dir="ltr">3. Borax</p> <p dir="ltr">Borax not only kill mould, but is water soluble, making it an easy addition to a load of washing. Check your garments' care labels, especially on any delicate clothing items to make sure they won't be damaged. Also, best to do a small spot test first before adding to the whole wash.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">4. Bleach</h3> <p dir="ltr">Bleach is known as an effective mould killer and stain remover. But as bleach tends to cause clothes to fade quickly, a spot test is recommended.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pre-soak the clothes in bleach for 30 minutes to an hour before adding them to a regular hot wash. It should be noted that bleach may be effective at killing mould spores hidden deep in the fabric, but it does weaken the cloth fibres and will shorten the lifespan of your clothing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Also, bleach should only be used in well-ventilated areas and never be mixed with other chemicals or vinegar.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Tips to prevent your clothes from getting mouldy</h3> <p> </p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Don't leave damp clothes and laundry at the bottom of washing machines or the laundry basket.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">When you do a load of laundry hang it out as soon as possible to dry in the sun.</p> </li> </ul>

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Why clean indoor air is so important

<p>It's a fact that clean indoor air is every bit as important as the air quality outside of your home - in fact, it can be more important according to a recent study of air pollution, published by <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1" target="_blank">The World Health Organisation</a> (WHO). <br /><br />An important finding of this study was that clean indoor air, or rather lack of it, <strong><em>is</em></strong> associated with air pollution, and it needs be addressed in both first and third world countries. This covers everything from how we prepare our food, to how we heat our homes and the products we use on our clothes or in our cleaning. <br /><br />It also cover something we rarely think about unless it’s in plain sight – and that's <strong><em>mould. </em></strong></p> <p><strong>Can mould in your home affect your health?</strong></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/43325/E92645.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>The Who Guidelines</strong> <strong>for indoor air quality: dampness and mould</strong></a> (2009) state that one of the leading factors in poor indoor air quality is mould. Often, people are not aware of how quickly mould can grow in the home and the harmful health effects it then causes for those who are living with mould in their environment. Sometimes you can’t even see that it’s there. However, its spores can be everywhere.</p> <p>If you have any kind of water damage in your home, such as a drip, flood or a leaking pipe, this can lead to mould growth in as little as 24-48 hours. Mould grows very quickly in wet or moist environments, so it’s important to clean up any leaking water and prevent it from growing or spreading as soon as possible.</p> <p>Mould’s a bit of a scourge, to say the least. Did you know that each year, mould destroys more wood around the world than all the fires and termites combined? </p> <p><strong>Mould contamination is far more common than we think</strong></p> <p>It’s estimated at least 45 million buildings in the US have unhealthy levels of mould. Well, with Australia’s humid and tropical climate in our highly-populated coastal areas, we are particularly susceptible to mould growth as well.</p> <p><img src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/VI0_azQv6N8/hqdefault.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Even if your home is safe, who knows if you’re breathing in mould spores at your office or gym? Mould is often hard to find and can remain hidden behind a wall, in the ceiling or under carpet for years.</p> <p>Getting rid of mould by professionals can often often expensive and the price can soar into the tens of thousands if the problem is severe. While mould removal is difficult and expensive, it’s worth it because the long-term health consequences can be even more costly.</p> <p><strong>What is mould illness like?</strong></p> <p><strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://moldprollc.com/10-common-symptoms-of-mold-biotoxin-illness/" target="_blank">Biotoxin illness</a></strong>, or mould illness, is quite common. If you’re living in a home with a mould infestation, mycotoxins from the mould usually spread to other parts of your home, as well especially any textiles you have such as curtains, lounges, beds and clothes.</p> <p>These mycotoxins can affect your immune system severely and lead to health conditions like allergies, hypersensitivity, respiratory problems (asthma, wheezing, coughing) and some other serious conditions such as memory loss, depression, anxiety and reproductive problems.</p> <p>Mould can impact more than just our respiratory system – it can even cause serious psychological issues like memory loss and depression.</p> <p><strong>What are we doing about mould illness?</strong></p> <p>In Australia, the identification and indeed diagnosis of mould illness seems to be slower than other parts of the world, simply as many of our doctors and medical profession don’t have the necessary training yet to identify this condition.</p> <p>A 2019 <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Health_Aged_Care_and_Sport/BiotoxinIllnesses/Report" target="_blank">Parliamentary Inquiry</a> into biotoxin illness recognised the disease, but the training and expertise to handle this illness is still developing.</p> <p>However globally, the lack of recognition of mould illness still occurs. Dr Scott McMahon MD from Roswell in New Mexico specialises in mould related illness. He said in 2017: “Possibly every doctor in the United States is treating mould illness and they just don’t realise it.”</p> <p><strong>Clean indoor air is vital for improving your air quality</strong></p> <p>If you can smell a musty or mouldy smell in your home or work environment, it can signify mould.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Have a professional mould company visit and assess it</strong><br />You may think you can’t see any mould but if you can smell it, there’s every chance there’s some it’s hiding somewhere.</li> <li><strong>Reach for natural solutions</strong></li> <li>There are many products you can use to clean your home of mould. One Australian company making a more natural solution is called <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://san-air.com.au/" target="_blank">San Air.</a> The products are plant-based but they help control bacteria – including mould – in the air. It helps to provide clean indoor air. It was created by the ex-head of a pharmaceutical company, using only plant-based ingredients. San-Air is blended to produce microbial reduction properties at low dosage. In other words, you won’t know it’s working, but you’ll enjoy the clean indoor air!</li> </ul> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><em>Photo: Getty Images</em></div>

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9 surprising ways to cut down indoor air pollution

<p>Many people assume pollution is just an outdoor problem but your home can also be polluted with mould and dust mites, making it an unhealthy environment.</p> <p>As Susan Olesik, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio State University says: “As a society, we make sure that our houses are well-insulated, but we don’t think enough about exposure to all the things we place in our homes.”</p> <p>The air quality in and around buildings has a big effect on our health, and while you can feel the symptoms – shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea – right away, other health effects can come on years after exposure, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). </p> <p><strong>Clear out old cigarette and e-cigarette smoke</strong></p> <p>Pulmonologist Dr Sumita Khatri notes that one of the most common indoor air pollutants is cigarette smoke, though newer e-cigarettes are another source. The vapour emitted when someone smokes e-cigarettes releases chemicals linked to lung disease.</p> <p>This rule also applies to the previous occupants of your home who may have smoked. “We have all heard of second-hand smoke but this is called third-hand smoke,” says Dr Khatri.</p> <p>“If you have a room that has been exposed to residual smoke, make sure to change the fabric or carpet, which can be a risk to children or people with chronic heart and lung problems,” she adds.</p> <p><strong>Don’t overwater indoor plants</strong></p> <p>Overwatering your plants can contribute to the growth of mould, and any water that leaks on to the floor invites mould growth as well, says Olesik. Put pebbles on top of the soil to discourage mould spores from getting into and polluting the air, walls and floor.</p> <p><strong>Clean under your fridge</strong></p> <p>The tray under your fridge is a veritable mould magnet. Adding salt reduces the growth of mould and bacteria. Clean under the refrigerator occasionally to get rid of dust and mould, and make sure your cleaning products are environmentally friendly, advises Dr Khatri. “Cleaning products can also be harmful, so consider green and natural cleaning products which release less harmful chemicals and fumes,” she says.</p> <p><strong>Freshen air naturally</strong></p> <p>Air fresheners and scented candles contain trace amounts of hazardous chemicals, though in amounts lower than most guidelines, so it’s OK to use them on occasion, says Oleski. But she warns against overdoing either approach to fresher air. “It’s better to open the window if the weather allows.” If not, turn on the AC. Air conditioners remove mould-friendly moisture and filter allergens entering the house. Just make sure to clean or change the filters often or you’ll just make things worse.</p> <p><strong>Give stuffed toys the deep freeze</strong></p> <p>That teddy bear could be riddled with dust mites! Regularly slip stuffed toys into a freezer bag and let them chill for three to five hours. The cold will kill any dust mites that could contribute to indoor air pollution, according to a 2017 report in the <em>Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology</em>.</p> <p><strong>Declutter</strong></p> <p>Regularly throw out or give away coats and other clothing you haven’t worn in ages. Put sports equipment in the garage where it belongs. When you’ve finished, you should be able to see all your closet floors and back walls.</p> <p>“Minimising clutter is a great way to improve air quality because it allows you to see dust and other contaminants that might be invisible,” says Dr Khatri. Now give everything a good vacuum and you’ll have significantly reduced the amount of dust in your house and cut down on your indoor air pollution.</p> <p><strong>Leave shoes at the door</strong></p> <p>Mud isn’t the only thing you track into your home, notes Oleski. Parking your shoes by the door keeps your floors clean and reduces indoor air pollution, especially pesticides tracked in from outdoors. “You know those signs that say ‘keep dogs off lawn?’” They should also apply to people,” she says.</p> <p><strong>Keep your pets clean</strong></p> <p>Just like you take off your shoes, always make sure to wipe off your pet’s paws when they come in from being outdoors. Towelling off their coat can also help prevent the spread of pollen indoors. And bathe them frequently to help dissolve the natural, allergy-causing substances in their sweat and skin that spread to their fur.</p> <p><em>Photo: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

Home & Garden

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This is what happens if you accidentally eat mould

<p><strong>Will eating mould make you sick?</strong></p> <p>You’re enjoying your breakfast when you notice that your banana muffin seems to have grown a patch of fuzzy green dots. You have already taken a bite or two. Now, you wonder, what happens if you eat mould?</p> <p>First, don’t panic. Most healthy people can accidentally eat some mould here and there and feel totally fine. A lot depends on the type of food (after all, some foods, like gorgonzola, and other blue cheeses are made with mould cultures) and on your underlying health status, like your immune system. Here’s a brief explanation of mouldy foods you can eat – and which ones to avoid.</p> <p><strong>What are moulds?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Moulds are microscopic fungi that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, food and building materials, such as insulation. All moulds need water or moisture to grow. Wherever there is moisture and oxygen, mould can grow.</p> <p>There are many species of fungi, with some estimates suggesting 300,000 or more, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is why the mould that pops up on your breakfast muffin may look different than the furry layer that grows on your luncheon meats, explains gastroenterologist Elena Ivanina. Unlike bacteria, moulds grow in structures that contain many cells, and you don’t need a microscope to see them. In general, moulds consist of root threads that run deep into food, a stalk that rises above the food, and spores at the end of the stalks. Spores give mould its variety of colours and also help transport it from item to item.</p> <p>“If you pick up a dandelion and blow on it, the seeds disperse in the air, and that’s how mould spores travel from place to place, contaminate products and cause spoilage,” says Robert Gravani, professor and director of the National Good Agricultural Practices Program.</p> <p>“Moulds are nature’s decomposers. If you have a piece of fruit with mould, eventually that fruit will be decomposed,” says Gravani. “Moulds are very efficient in what they do.” In fact, some can be very beneficial. The life-saving antibiotic penicillin is made from Penicillium mould, Dr Ivanina notes.</p> <p>Mould thrives in warm, humid environments, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also form and grow in your refrigerator. Moulds are pretty smart, too, and tolerate preservatives such as salt and sugar better than most other food invaders. “They are pretty hearty critters,” Gravani says.</p> <p><strong>Allergic reactions to mould</strong></p> <p>Some people are allergic to mould, says Dr Ivanina. This is usually mould in the environment as opposed to food, but for these people, exposure to mould can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or headaches. If your doctor suspects a mould allergy is to blame, you will likely be referred for testing, she says.</p> <p>Hidden patches of mould can lurk in all different areas of your home and may make you sick.</p> <p>“If you have an underlying health condition that affects your immune system, exposure to mould can be dangerous,” Dr Ivanina says. “You may have a much worse reaction to eating mould than someone else because you don’t have a healthy immune system to fight that reaction.”</p> <p><strong>Some moulds produce poisonous substances</strong></p> <p>A few moulds produce mycotoxins, or poisonous substances that can make you very sick. For example, moulds produced by the <em>Aspergillus</em> species can cause aflatoxicosis, a life-threatening form of acute poisoning with the potential to cause liver damage.</p> <p>This type of mould tends to lurk in cereals: oil seeds such as soybean, peanut, sunflower, and cotton seeds; spices; and tree nuts. These mycotoxins have been linked to cancer in animals and can cause liver cancer in humans. “Some are highly toxic, which can get you really sick or cause cancer,” says Gravani.</p> <p><strong>How to handle mouldy foods</strong></p> <p>When it comes to food, it can be tempting to cut away mould and eat it anyway, given the high price tags of certain products, but it’s usually not worth it, Gravani says.</p> <p>Besides the risk of illness, mouldy food doesn’t taste great, he says. Most moulds on soft foods will taste like soil or dust. If it looks like mould, it likely is mould, so don’t smell it, as according to the USDA, sniffing it can cause respiratory issues.</p> <p>When in doubt, throw it out, Dr Ivanina says. This is a good motto for mouldy foods, but there are some more specific guidelines to keep in mind too.</p> <p><strong>Cheese</strong></p> <p>There are different rules for cheese depending on its texture.</p> <p><strong>Hard cheese</strong></p> <p><span>Hard cheeses (not to be mistaken with those that have mould as part of the process) can be consumed if you cut off at least 2cm around and below the mould. Make sure to keep the knife away from the mould to avoid spreading it. Still, Gravani adds, “If the hard cheese is heavily encrusted with mould, I would probably discard it.”</span></p> <p><strong>Soft cheese</strong></p> <p>If you see mould on soft cheese such as cottage, cream cheese or all types of crumbled, shredded and sliced cheeses, throw it out. These may be contaminated below the surface and can also have bacteria growing along with the mould.</p> <p>Some cheeses are made with mould including Roquefort, blue, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Brie, and Camembert. If they contain moulds that are not a part of the manufacturing process, these cheeses can be dangerous.</p> <p><strong>Fruit and vegetables</strong></p> <p><span>Like cheese, there are different rules for fruits and vegetables based on the texture.</span></p> <p><strong>Soft produce</strong></p> <p>Discard soft fruit and veggies like cucumbers, peaches and tomatoes if you spy any mould. Many of these may also be contaminated under the surface, says Dr Ivanina.</p> <p>What you see isn’t all that you get with moulds. “Root” threads from the mould tend to run deep, especially in foods that show heavy mould growth.</p> <p><strong>Firm produce</strong></p> <p><span>You can keep these if you cut out all the mould. This is due to the low moisture content as seen with firm fruit and veggies like cabbage, capsicums and carrots. With these types of foods, mould can’t penetrate them easily.</span></p> <p><strong>Meat</strong></p> <p><span>The rule of thumb for mouldy luncheon meat, bacon and hot dogs is to discard as they may be contaminated under the surface and also harbour bacteria, Dr Ivanina says.</span></p> <p><strong>Hard salami and dry-cured country hams</strong></p> <p><span>You can keep these meats if you scrub off all of the surface mould. The USDA points out that it is normal for these shelf-stable products to grow surface mould.</span></p> <p><strong>Cooked casseroles and leftover meat</strong></p> <p><span>Get rid of these if you see mould as there is a good chance it runs deep and it may travel with bacteria. It’s also a smart idea to use or get rid of leftovers within three or four days.</span></p> <p><strong>In the fridge</strong></p> <p><strong>Cooked grains and pasta</strong></p> <p><span>Like other leftovers, if you see mould on cooked grains or pasta, toss it. There is likely mould under the surface too and there’s also a risk of bacteria.</span></p> <p><strong>Yoghurt and sour cream</strong></p> <p><span>If you see mould, get rid of yogurt and sour cream immediately. Mould is likely growing beneath the surface too, and there’s a good chance that the mould is travelling with bacteria.</span></p> <p><strong>Jam</strong></p> <p><span>These should be thrown away if you see any mould. These foods could be producing a mycotoxin if they develop mould, which is why microbiologists warn never to scoop out the mould and use the remains.</span></p> <p><strong>In the pantry</strong></p> <p><strong>Bread and baked goods</strong></p> <p><span>Get rid of mouldy bread and baked goods, says Dr Ivanina. “Mould can spread really fast on soft things like bread and muffins.”</span></p> <p><strong>Peanut butter, legumes and nuts</strong></p> <p><span>Discard these because foods processed without preservatives are at high risk for mould.</span></p> <p><strong>How to avoid eating mould</strong></p> <p>Preventing mould from forming can go a long way towards preserving your food supply and eliminating waste. This starts by storing fruits and vegetables in individual containers or plastic bags in your crisper.</p> <p>Keep food covered when serving to prevent exposure to mould spores in the air, and cover foods you want to stay moist with a lid or bees’ wax wrap to keep mould away.</p> <p>Don’t forget to always empty open cans of perishable foods into clean containers and refrigerate them right away. And never leave any perishables out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.</p> <p>Clean out your refrigerator and often, Gravani says. Also, as a rule of thumb: Toss out the food as soon as you spot mould or it will travel and invade the rest of your food.</p> <p><em><span>Written by Denise Mann, MS</span><span>. This article first appeared in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/kitchen-tips/this-is-what-happens-if-you-accidentally-eat-mould" target="_blank"><span>Reader’s Digest</span></a><span>.</span><span> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V"><span>here’s our best subscription offer.</span></a></em></p>

Food & Wine

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Healthy housing agenda: Mould and damp health costs are about 3 times those of sugary drinks

<p>The World Health Organisation has always been interested in housing as one of the big “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32848-9">causes of the causes</a>”, of the social determinants, of health. The WHO launched evidence-based <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550376">guidelines</a> for healthy housing policies in 2019.</p> <p>Australia is behind the eight ball on healthy housing. Other governments, including in the <a href="https://nchh.org/information-and-evidence/healthy-housing-policy/national/">United States</a>, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/housing-for-health">United Kingdom</a> and <a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/healthy-homes-initiative">New Zealand</a>, acknowledge housing as an important contributor to the burden of disease. These countries have major policy initiatives focused on this agenda.</p> <p>In Australia, however, we do housing and we do health, but they sit in different portfolios of government and aren’t together in the (policy) room often enough. Housing should be embedded in our <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/national-preventive-health-strategy">National Preventive Health Strategy</a>.</p> <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to rethink how we approach health and protect our populations. It has amplified social and economic vulnerability. The pandemic has almost certainly brought housing and health together in our minds.</p> <p>Housing – its ability to provide shelter, its quality, location, warmth – has proven to be a key factor in the pandemic’s “syndemic” nature. That is, as well as shaping exposure to the virus itself, housing contributes to the social patterning of chronic diseases that increase COVID-19 risks.</p> <p><strong>Housing and health are intertwined</strong></p> <p>Housing affects health in many ways. At the broad scale, <a href="https://theconversation.com/poor-housing-leaves-its-mark-on-our-mental-health-for-years-to-come-120595">housing disadvantage</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/dangerous-to-human-health-thats-a-housing-problem-much-bigger-than-a-few-high-profile-apartment-blocks-120656">unaffordable housing</a> and housing of poor quality have been the focus of much recent Australian research. More specific housing drivers of health, such as household mould, injury, overcrowding, noise, cold and damp, have received <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550376">renewed global attention</a>.</p> <p>However, capturing the combined health effect of housing is difficult. It’s hard to measure and has many components, and everyone has slightly different housing (and health).</p> <p>But epidemiologists can provide us with a useful way of estimating the “burden” of various risk factors for population health. Housing risk factors have rarely been examined in Australia, but <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12326">our estimates</a> flag that the <a href="https://theconversation.com/poor-housing-leaves-its-mark-on-our-mental-health-for-years-to-come-120595">increasing health burden of housing</a> demands attention.</p> <p>For example, we estimate the health cost (measured in <a href="https://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/metrics_daly/en/">disability-adjusted life years</a>) due to respiratory and cardiovascular disease that can be attributed to mouldy or damp housing is about three times the cost attributable to sugary drinks in Australia. Damp, cold and mouldy housing generates a substantial health burden and could be an easy target for public health prevention strategies. These housing conditions stand alongside many of the classic risk factors such as diet, smoking and obesity.</p> <p>This estimate of health burden does not even factor in the important role housing plays in mental health. Housing affordability, security, suitability, location and condition are all associated with good mental health.</p> <p>With rates of eviction likely to increase once moratoriums are lifted across the country, the housing-related mental health burden will almost certainly increase too.</p> <p>We have previously estimated more than <a href="https://doi-org.proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/10.1111/1745-5871.12326">2.5 million Australians are living in unhealthy housing</a> — and that this number is rising.</p> <p><strong>What housing actions will improve health?</strong></p> <p>Simple housing-focused interventions could reduce the sizeable health burden from housing-related problems. As the WHO advocates, this requires policy and research that have an eye on both health and housing.</p> <p>In practical terms, a preventive health strategy would include:</p> <ul> <li>minimum rental housing standards to protect occupants’ health, which would target structural factors related to damp and mould, ventilation, heating and cooling, injury hazards, maintenance and repair</li> <li>good-quality public housing that is easy to access as a foundation for healthy lives</li> <li>help with fixing problems, such as mould removal and servicing of heaters, for people in poor-quality housing</li> <li>insulation to maintain indoor temperature and increase energy efficiency.</li> </ul> <p><strong>COVID adds urgency to rethinking our approach</strong></p> <p>COVID has caused us to rapidly rethink public housing, nursing homes, share houses and small inner-city apartments. When choosing our current housing, few of us would have factored in the potential for isolation and loneliness, the need for separate working and study spaces, access to private green space, or the infection risk of shared lifts.</p> <p>The experience of many Australians during the pandemic has almost certainly changed our view of the housing that we need, and what we consider to be healthy. It is time to harness this knowledge and learn from our COVID-19 experience.</p> <p>Many have <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-housing-was-one-hell-of-a-missed-budget-opportunity-but-theres-time-147665">lamented the missed opportunity</a> to create economic stimulus in our nation’s COVID recovery plan by building more social housing. But social housing is only a small part of the story. Australia needs to embrace a future where good population health goes hand in hand with good-quality, affordable and secure housing – where health is at the forefront of housing policy and public preventive health strategies harness housing.</p> <p><strong>7 key questions for a healthy housing agenda</strong></p> <p>The time is right for Australia to put housing and health in the same room and develop a national healthy housing agenda. Our <a href="https://www.healthyhousing-cre.org/">National Health and Medical Research Council-funded Centre for Research Excellence in Healthy Housing</a> aims to lead and shape this agenda. In doing so, we pose the following questions to our governments, research community and stakeholders:1</p> <p>1. How can we respond in a nationally co-ordinated way to the emerging challenges that COVID-19 presents to healthy housing?</p> <p>2. Who should be included in the conversation and in developing the agenda – and what is the role of the Commonwealth Department of Health?</p> <p>3. Where does responsibility for providing healthy housing lie?</p> <p>4. What is the “minimum standard” of housing that we want to provide to all Australians?</p> <p>5. What are the healthy housing priorities? Warmth? Mould? Tenure security? <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/174/7/753/115870">Affordability</a>?</p> <p>6. What groups in our society demand immediate attention? Children? Renters? People with disabilities?</p> <p>7. How will an Australian healthy housing agenda fit within a national housing agenda (when one exists)?</p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-bentley-173502">Rebecca Bentley</a>, University of Melbourne and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emma-baker-172081">Emma Baker</a>. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/mould-and-damp-health-costs-are-about-3-times-those-of-sugary-drinks-we-need-a-healthy-housing-agenda-147743">The Conversation.</a> </em></p>

Caring

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URGENT: Popular pet food brand issues recall after mould discovered in five products

<p>Australian pet owners are being advised to check their pet food after a popular brand issued a voluntary recall on its products, which may contain mould.</p> <p>Black Hawk has issued an immediate recall of five different puppy and adult dog food varieties after it discovered specific batches, which were manufactured last year, to have a common quality defect.</p> <p>In an updated statement issued today, the company added more batches to its long list of products which include:</p> <ul> <li>Black Hawk Adult Chicken and Rice Dog Food (3kg, 10kg and 20kg)</li> <li>Black Hawk Adult Lamb and Rice Dog Food (3kg, 10kg and 20kg)</li> <li>Black Hawk Adult Fish and Potato Dog Food (3kg, 10kg and 20kg)</li> <li>Black Hawk Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice Dog Food (20kg only)</li> <li>Black Hawk Puppy Large Breed Chicken and Rice (20kg only)</li> </ul> <p>The products have best before dates that range between February 2, 2021 to June 4, 2021.</p> <p>Pet owners are being told to check their best before dates on their dog food which can be found at the back of the bag towards the centre, near the ingredients list.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 347.35202492211835px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7833999/2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f409e4fb2277435eba913c24a27a3a92" /></p> <p>“If you’re product matches the disclosed product and best before dates, stop feeding it to your pet immediately,” said the statement.</p> <p>“Return the product to your place of purchase, where your retailer will provide you with a replacement bag of food.”</p> <p>It also said: “… if product is affected the mould is very obvious to consumers.”</p> <p>The company said there have been no reports of ill animals so far.</p> <p>Anyone with questions is urged to contact Black Hawk’s customer service team directly on 1300 654 279 or<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:customer.service@masterpet.com.au" target="_blank">customer.service@masterpet.com.au</a></p>

Family & Pets

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3 easy ways to eradicate mould at home

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It can be difficult to identify hidden mould in an older home. However, once you have discovered it, you can learn to eliminate it forever.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Spores are small, often incognito little gremlins that can grow from one to many in a very short amount of time. They can remain invisible for months or even years, but if they are left alone, they can slowly take over your house and affect your family's health.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, what should you do to identify exactly where those unwanted little spores are lurking?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Energy-efficiency expert and scientist Jenny Edwards from Light House Architecture and Science has uncovered helpful mould precautions tips specifically for Australian homes.</span></p> <p><strong>Tip 1: Don’t block off airways </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the winter months it is easy to close the blinds early and lock in the heat from the heater. However, doing this will create a petri dish of mould in your room, especially bathrooms. Edwards suggests that you should always install a new extractor fan in the bathrooms of older homes. It will stop the moisture from growing spores.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Handy hint:</strong> Keep the extractor fan on after you leave the shower because it needs time to work. </span></p> <p><strong>Tip 2: Try not to dry your clothes inside </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sometimes drying your clothes inside is unavoidable. However, if there is a ray of sunshine outside and a slight breeze, try and let your garments blow in the wind. Wet clothes drying inside will increase the moisture in the air and lead to condensation. Condensation, of course, grows the mould and that is what we are trying to avoid.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Handy hint:</strong> If you do dry clothes inside then at least put them in the sunniest room in the house and have the windows open to allow some sun and air in.</span></p> <p><strong>Tip 3: What do to if your house already has mould </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can be super cautious and attentive but mould can still creep through the cracks. So, if you do discover mould that you missed upon execution, here is what you do.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CEO for Mycology Dr Heike Neumeister-Kemp says that the best way to get rid of mould is using white vinegar and a microfibre cloth. If there is a huge amount of mould that you can't reach, then the last resort would be to use a dehumidifier to attack the build-up of moisture.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you live in a home that is a little older, have a building inspector check for any mould if you think you can smell it but can’t find the source of. It can make the difference.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Handy hint:</strong> The best way to get rid of mould is using white vinegar and a microfibre cloth.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Stewart Bunn. Republished with permission of </span><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/property/3-easy-ways-to-eradicate-mould-at-home.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wyza.com.au</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></em></p>

Legal

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How does household mould affect your health?

<p><strong><em>Jeroen Douwes is a Professor of Public Health at the Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University. </em></strong></p> <p>Exposure to harmful agents inside the home can have profound effects on our health. After all, we spend an average of<span> </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16078638">16 hours a day</a><span> </span>at home – and even more when aged under seven and over 64.</p> <p>Mould accumulates in damp and poorly ventilated buildings. Inhaling mould fragments or spores can inflame the airways, causing nasal congestion, wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and throat irritation.</p> <p>Prolonged exposure to high levels of indoor dampness<span> </span><a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1002410/">can reduce lung function</a><span> </span>and cause chronic health problems such as asthma. Those who already suffer from asthma and allergies are more likely to have<span> </span><a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1002410/">more severe symptoms</a><span> </span>when exposed.</p> <p>According to the World Health Organization (<a href="http://www.who.int/en/">WHO</a>), a<span> </span><a href="http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/142077/e95004.pdf">considerable proportion</a><span> </span>of the world’s<span> </span><a href="http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1210781">300 million cases</a><span> </span>of childhood asthma is attributable to exposure to indoor dampness and mould.</p> <p>People who live in damp and mouldy homes are also at increased risk of<span> </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1994167/">depression</a><span> </span>which, in turn, may<span> </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21532014">increase the risk</a><span> </span>of respiratory symptoms and<span> </span><a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1002410/">asthma</a>.</p> <p>The most infamous type of mould is “black mould” (<em>Stachybotrys chartarum</em>), which can grow on water-damaged building materials and produce toxic spores. In 1994, it was linked to a<span> </span><a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=192616">serious respiratory illness</a><span> </span>after ten children experienced idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (bleeding from the lung) and one subsequently died.</p> <p>But despite significant media interest and public concern, a causal link was<span> </span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm#Q8">never established</a>.</p> <p><strong>Who is at risk?</strong></p> <p>It’s commonly assumed that mould causes the health problems described above, though the evidence for this is generally weaker than for dampness itself. This may be related to the fact that scientists are still struggling to accurately measure indoor mould exposures.</p> <p>The WHO<span> </span><a href="http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/142077/e95004.pdf">estimates</a><span> </span>that in cold climates, 15% of dwellings have signs of dampness and 5% have signs of mould problems. In warm climates, the estimates are 20% for dampness and 25% for mould.</p> <p>Since dampness is more likely to occur in houses that are overcrowded and lack appropriate heating, ventilation and insulation, the prevalence of damp indoor problems in low-income communities and rental accommodation can be substantially higher.</p> <p>Climate change and its effects on the weather (storms, heavy rainfall and floods) are likely to<span> </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499913/">further increase</a><span> </span>the proportion of buildings with damp problems.</p> <p><strong>What can you do?</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p>No safe levels of indoor dampness and or mould have been defined. So health-based standards or guidelines do not exist.</p> <p>Nonetheless, there are several practicable measures you can take to prevent or minimise indoor mould. These include adequately heating and, in colder climates, insulating your home to reduce air humidity levels and condensation.</p> <p>Install and use appropriate ventilation, particularly in wet areas or areas where water vapour may be emitted, such as bathrooms, laundries and kitchen areas.</p> <p>It’s also critical to avoid water leaks by controlling and maintaining rain and surface water drainage. Where holes are created in the roof or walls to allow skylights, windows, doors, pipes or other structures to be fitted, make sure these are watertight.</p> <p>If you find visible mould in your home, remove the mould and identify and address the cause of the excess moisture. Clean hard surfaces using soap and water or, if mould growth is persistent, a bleach solution could be used. You may need to throw away absorbent materials such as carpets, depending on the level of contamination.</p> <p>In case of extensive mould damage, you may need to call on commercial mould remediation services.</p> <p>Although those with pre-existing allergies or asthma are at greater risks, mould can also cause health effects in otherwise healthy people. So measures to prevent or reduce mould exposure are important to everyone.</p> <p>Some regions may require stricter regulations and building codes to prevent dampness and mould.</p> <p>Damp problems are particularly prevalent in rental houses, often due to poor maintenance. So regulators should also consider a periodic inspection system (or “warrant of fitness”) to ensure minimal housing standards are met.</p> <p><em>Written by Jeroen Douwes. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Conversation</strong></span></a>. </em></p> <p><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/48341/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p>

Caring

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Mum’s warning after disgusting discovery in kid’s lunchbox

<p>A Kiwi mum is warning consumers to check for hidden mould in lunch boxes.</p> <p>While cleaning her children's bento-style boxes, Bay of Plenty woman Grace Bollen pried open the lids, pulling apart layers of plastic that had been glued together, and found mould coating the surfaces. </p> <p>"I first discovered wee black bits coming out of the yellow lunch box so decided to investigate," she told <em>Stuff</em>. "I was absolutely horrified. I was actually in tears at the thought my son was taking a mouldy lunch box to school."</p> <p>She published pictures in a Facebook post that has since been shared 1,400 times. She also contacted the suppliers of the lunch boxes.</p> <p>"When I showed the kids they were stunned, upset because they love their lunch boxes, but they understood how gross they were."</p> <p>Bollen said she washed the lunch boxes by hand each night and left them open to dry completely before morning. </p> <p>One of the lunch boxes had been in use for about a year, and the other for nine months.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgrace.bollen%2Fposts%2F10158288750294852&amp;width=500" width="500" height="770" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p>Since posting her warning, Bollen said she had received more than 20 messages from people who had also found hidden mould in their lunch boxes.</p> <p>"I'm not checking all of them as my inbox and Facebook notifications are going crazy."</p> <p>The owners of Lunch Box Inc, which sold one of the affected lunch boxes, told <em>Stuff</em> they were looking into the problem.</p> <p>"At this stage, we do not know the number of lunch boxes that may have been affected as we are still investigating the matter," said Nicky Skinner.</p> <p>"Upon being notified of this situation, we immediately contacted our manufacturer and are awaiting their response."</p> <p>Stuck on You, the Australian company which sold Bollen's second mouldy lunch box, released a statement.</p> <p>"The wellbeing of children is paramount to all of us here at Stuck On You and we are committed to the highest levels of compliance and safety. And we take our customer feedback very seriously."</p> <p>The company suggested that their bento boxes should be hand-washed in hot, soapy water as soon as possible after use. </p> <p>"Do not attempt to separate the silicon seal from the outer box," they said. "We highly recommend that even once dry you should keep the parts separate and store them in a well-ventilated area until ready to use again." </p> <p>Bollen's post was shared on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happymumhappychild">Happy Mum Happy Child</a> Facebook page, where it attracted a lot of comment. </p> <p>"I personally have never encountered mouldy lunch boxes like this – but this could just be because of the type of lunch box my kids have," said Maria Foy of Happy Mum Happy Child.</p> <p>"Although I've reviewed a lot of lunch boxes, most of the parts are removable (or sealed well enough) so that mould isn't an issue. The only thing I've ever come across is drink bottles that get mouldy, but that's not a new one."</p> <p>Foy suggested that unless people owned a lunch box that had been identified as problematic, they should leave them intact.</p> <p>"I would also hesitate to try and remove the existing seal because as soon as you do you ruin the lunch box."</p> <p>If you want to check your lunch boxes without pulling apart the layers that have ben glued together, hold the lids up to the light. You should be able to see dark patches of mould if they are there.</p> <p><em>Written by Eleanor Black. Republished with permission of <strong><u><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/106517559/mums-warning-check-lunch-boxes-for-hidden-mould">Stuff.co.nz.</a></u></strong> </em></p>

Home & Garden

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“I almost vomited”: Woman’s horrifying discovery at KFC

<p>Sydney woman Georgina Mezentsef got a little more than she bargained for when she visited her local KFC for a quick lunch.</p> <p>The 20-year-old ordered a popcorn chicken and chips pack at a KFC store in Punchbowl only to discover the chicken was covered in mould.</p> <p><span><img width="498" height="480" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816964/29351656_1216019421834769_539310902411728847_o_498x480.jpg" alt="29351656_1216019421834769_539310902411728847_o" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></span></p> <p>“I saw it as soon as I opened it,” Georgina told the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5552605/Woman-horrified-KFC-chicken-covered-MOULD.html" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Daily Mail</span></em></strong></a>. “It was like it was smiling at me I almost vomited.”</p> <p>A workmate who accompanied her to KFC also received food that was covered in mould. “My colleague didn’t take a photo of hers but she had a wrap and the bread was mouldy as well,” Georgina explained.</p> <p>The pair immediately returned the disgusting food, but shockingly, only received “part” of their money back before leaving.</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, have you ever found mould in a fast food order?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Georgina Mezentsef/Facebook.</em></p>

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