How Unresolved Mold Growth Impacts Susceptible Populations

Mold is a common household problem that many people like to put off — the cost or inconvenience of mold remediation is one that many people want to avoid. At MoldTech, we’ve seen the results of unresolved mold growth creeping across homes and destroying things, causing more significant disruption and higher removal costs. One method for avoiding this is mold testing in Vaughan, a safe and thorough service that helps you find hidden infestations. Mold testing is especially important for households with kids, older adults, pets, or the immunocompromised, as mold can have an outsized effect on these populations. 

How Does Mold Affect the Body?

Mold is a fungus that grows on organic materials like wood, textiles, paper, and more. Unlike the plants in the park or your garden, mold reproduces without seeds, instead creating tiny spores that float through the atmosphere. 

These spores are small enough to breathe in, where they irritate the respiratory system. They can also affect skin and hair, the eyes, nose, and mouth. The symptoms of mold exposure vary, but most people report effects like:

• Sneezing
• Coughing or wheezing
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Congestion
• Headaches
• Fatigue

These symptoms are shared between many common viruses or bacterial infections, as well as short and long-term illnesses and diseases, making mold very difficult to identify by symptoms alone. At MoldTech, we generally recommend mould testing when you have persistent symptoms that reduce or disappear when you leave home, when you smell something musty, or when you’ve had a mould-triggering event like a flood. 

Why Is Mold a Time-Sensitive Problem?

Mold infestations should be looked at by a professional as soon as they’re discovered or inspected. Mold grows — it is a living fungus whose only goal is to eat and grow larger, which means it may start small but quickly grow beyond its original boundaries. 

Because mold reproduces using airborne spores, unsuspecting people or pets can carry these spores to new places in the home, helping it establish a secondary colony. Now you have two mold problems, not one! 

Effective and safe, mold remediation eliminates mold colonies of all sizes. It’s best done by a professional so that the risk of cross-contamination is eliminated and any contributing factors are identified and resolved. 

How Mold Affects Susceptible Populations

Mold has an outsized effect on specific populations, which is why MoldTech takes extra care when there are children, elders, pets, and people with immunocompromised health living in a home with mold growth. While reactions to mold are individual and must be diagnosed by your family doctor, we’ve noticed trends and commonalities in the following populations:

• Children: The latest research into early mold exposure has resulted in a solid link to the development of asthma. As our kids grow and develop, mold growth can affect the healthy development of the respiratory system as well as other aspects of life. Research into adult productivity found that air quality pollutants like mold reduce concentration and energy, which may translate for kids as poor learning outcomes and fractured attention at school. 
• Elders: As we age, health problems gradually rear their heads. These problems can be worsened or triggered by exposure to mold growth, resulting in increased hospital visits and reduced capacity. Staying healthy, strong, and independent as we age is everyone’s greatest desire, and ensuring a mold-free home is a critical element in achieving that outcome.
• Pets: Our furry (or scaled or feathered!) friends have little choice in their environment and are generally unable to tell us when they hurt or if something is making them uncomfortable at home. Just like humans, pets can be adversely affected by mold, and as caregivers, we have a responsibility for their health and wellness.  
• Immunocompromised People: If you’re dealing with a long-term health issue, mold exposure can lower your threshold and tolerance for daily activity. Mold has been shown to affect the immune system, cause fatigue, and lower resistance to common viruses. When your system is compromised, it is critical to keep your environment as regulated and healthy as possible, and mold remediation is part of that. 

Treat Unresolved Mold Growth in Vaughan Today!

If members of your household fall into these at-risk categories, the MoldTech team’s recommendation is to book mold testing in Vaughan to assess your home and uncover any hidden infestations or factors that contribute to mold development. It’s easy to miss mold infestations hidden behind walls or floors, and visual evidence may not develop for months. To contact our team and book your mold remediation, call or email MoldTech to learn more. 

CALL NOW!