Toxic Mould: What is it and how can we help? 

We work alongside a number of local authority and social housing organisations to conduct house clearances. Whilst delivering these services, our team have seen that many of these properties are experiencing a common issue; the development of toxic mould.

We wanted to share some more information on Toxic Mould, to highlight the causes, effects and how it can be dealt with, to help organisations manage the risk it presents.  

What is Toxic Mould? 

There are many different types of mould and some are more harmful than others. 

Toxic Mould, as the name would indicate, are hazardous types of mould that are capable of producing chemicals called mycotoxins, which are known to be highly toxic. 

Mycotoxins are contained within mould spores released into the air and when inhaled, they have the potential for creating a variety of health problems. 

Mould can affect people in many different ways depending on their sensitivity, but typically it can cause coughing, wheezing, nose stuffiness, red or itchy eyes, skin rashes and sore throats, whilst in more severe cases it can cause asthma attacks, increased breathing difficulty, memory loss, headaches and even cancer. 

Due to its hazardous nature, it is essential that toxic mould is dealt with effectively, to protect individuals and maintain the safety of the property. 

Removing Toxic Mould 

Should you identify potential toxic mould within your building, or our team identify the presence of toxic mould within a property during clearance, we can work alongside you to safely remove the mould. 

Unfortunately removal and replacement is the only way to deal with items once they have been affected, so the first step will be the safe removal and disposal of any affected items, including carpeting, upholstery, drywall, insulation, and any other items. 

Following removal, the property will need to undergo a deep clean to remediate the mould infestation and remove all traces of mould spores. 

Due to mould growth being an indication of problems with moisture or water in a property, this is a problem that will need to be addressed in order to prevent recurrence.

Therefore, following the work of our experienced and highly-trained team, your organisation will also need to look into the initial cause of the growth and put processes in place to remove and manage the cause.  

Mould can grow anywhere 

Due to the nature of the properties where we conduct house clearances, it is often that these buildings are left untouched for long periods. This of course increases the risk of mould growth. 

However, toxic mould growth is not exclusive to these types of properties and it can occur anywhere, even within a workplace or school; it simply requires high levels of moisture and will thrive in areas that are left unkempt. 

Nowhere is exempt from toxic mould growth and in order to mitigate the risk, your organisation should have an effective cleaning regime in place that covers all corners of your site. 

Through regular cleaning, you can quickly identify any areas where excessive moisture is becoming an issue and can implement processes to manage it before it becomes an issue and leads to mould growth. 

Regularly scheduled deep cleans are also essential to ensure that even the hardest to reach areas are cleaned and maintained, particularly those that are known to be more moisture-generating, such as cooking areas and bathrooms.  

If you are currently dealing with a toxic mould issue and you’d like support from our team, or you would like to discuss implementing a more effective cleaning strategy to prevent mould growth, Fidelis Group is on hand to help. 

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