Protect your Health: Recognize Mould !

Signs of Mould: How to Detect Mould in your Home

Have you traced mould growth in your house? 

Do you find it hard to identify the mould to know the degree of harm that it can cause? 

There are different types of mould, some of which can cause serious harm to your health. Mould can be categorized into different classes based on the health risks that they impose. The categories are broken into Hazard Class A, Hazard Class B and Hazard Class C.

Hazard Class A – Mould belonging to this group are hazardous to health. If such mould types are found in your house or office, they must be removed as early as possible.

Hazard Class B – Mould belonging to this class can cause allergic reactions that last for a longer period of time.

Hazard Class C – Though mould belonging to this class do not cause any health hazards, they can cause structural damage to your house or office.

Common Mould Types:

• Cladosporium - is a very common mould found in houses or offices. It appears brown, black, grey and/or green in colour. It usually grows on walls, dust, insulation and wood. Exposure to this mould results in allergic reactions and so they can be classified as Hazard Class B.
• Aspergillus - can appear brown, green, black, yellow or white in colour. Aspergillus has many species in its genus and fall into Hazard Classes A or B. Aspergillus germinate and grow on paper products, walls, soil, insulation, clothing and many such places. In people with weak immune systems, these cause lung infections, asthma and fever and in others it may cause only allergic reactions.
• Penicillium - The term Penicillium may be quite familiar as it is from where antibiotics were discovered. It does not mean that it is a harmless type of mould as it can be hazardous as well. You can find this mould in green, blue or white in colour. It usually grows on food substances like cheese, or on walls and insulations. These are classified under Hazard Class B or C.
• Alternaria - is also a common type of mould growth found in a grey or black colour. This type of mould is classified under Hazard Class B as these can cause allergic reactions. Inhaling this mould can cause hay fever and asthmatic reactions as well. Mould found in dusty areas, windows, soil, plants, walls and windows can be categorized as Alternaria.
• Stachybotrys - looks black on surfaces. This type of mould grows on damp areas and is classified as Hazard Class A mould as it creates toxins. Stachybotrys is usually traced on wood, paper, cardboard, hay and wicker. This mould can cause headaches, asthma and cancer.
• Mucor - growth is usually observed in soil. In houses and offices, this type of mould is found on ducting and air conditioning. Mucor grows thick and can be found in a whitish to a greyish colour. This mould can also cause a disease named zygomycosis, which is an infection that affects the face.

Mould of any type is a serious concern and should be dealt with immediately.

If you think you have mould in your house, office or anywhere else, contact an experienced professional to have it assessed.

Contact your local Winmar Georgian Bay Muskoka specialist at 1-888-656-6062.