Black mould: How dangerous is it in the home and how can it be treated?

By James Gregory & Tim Dodd
BBC News
Exposure to mould can cause respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma, and can sometimes be fatal.
In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale.
Under new government proposals, dubbed “Awaab’s law”, social housing landlords in England could be forced to repair mouldy properties much more quickly.
What is black mould?
Mould – sometimes referred to using the American spelling mold – is a microscopic fungus that grows in damp places.
Mould spores are found everywhere, and are released in their thousands into the atmosphere.
Signs of mould at home include fuzzy black, white or green patches on the walls, and a damp and musty smell.
How dangerous is black mould?
People living with mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections, allergies or asthma.
Inhaling or touching the spores that mould releases into the air can cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and a skin rash.
Mould can also trigger asthma attacks and cause coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.
Each year, the NHS in England spends an estimated £1.4bn on treating illnesses associated with living in cold or damp housing, according to building research body BRE.
Those more at risk from mould include the elderly, children and babies, as well as people with existing respiratory illnesses and some skin problems.
Rochdale Coroners Office Mould in Awaab Ishak’s homeRochdale Coroners Office
Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home
What causes mould in houses and how can it be treated?
Condensation is the leading cause of mould in homes across the UK.
It most commonly occurs in parts of the home where there are high moisture levels: bathrooms, kitchens, and around windows.
When air cools, water vapour forms into water droplets as it comes into contact with surfaces in the home that are below a temperature known as the dew point.
These surfaces can include uninsulated external walls or windows.
If left untreated, the surface can become damp and create the conditions for mould to grow.
Older and poorly
insulated properties are more prone to this.
Mould can also be caused by daily tasks which create excess moisture such as showering, cooking and drying washing indoors.
Taking shorter showers and wiping down surfaces afterwards can help, as can improving ventilation, and opening kitchen windows or using an extractor fan when cooking.
It is also important to check for leaky pipes or gutters which can make the problem worse.
What rights do tenants have if their home has mould?
Private and social landlords have a responsibility to make sure homes are safe and in good repair.
In private and social rental properties, it is the landlord’s responsibility to fix a mould problem which is due to poor maintenance, according to the housing charity Shelter.
If the mould is so bad that your home becomes unfit for habitation, then you could be classed as homeless and entitled to emergency accommodation.
But landlords may not be responsible if there is evidence a tenant has not been ventilating the home correctly. Source:bbc.com/news