The impact of mould in the home on the health of kids was recently catapulted into the headlines following the death of two-year-old Awaab Isha.
The toddler and his family lived in a flat owned by a local housing association. Despite Awaab’s father repeatedly asking Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) to fix the mould problem, nothing was done.
The coroner ruled that black mould directly attributed to Awaab’s death and RBH had not been proactive.
Housing Minister, Michael Gove, has said that the government is working on a new policy that forces landlords to meet strict time limits for dealing with potentially hazardous health concerns.
Will this protect vulnerable people from the dangers of damp and mould? That remains to be seen, but what is very clear is how dangerous mould is, especially for children.
Children and older people are more vulnerable to the effects of mould. Mould in the home produces allergens, which irritate the immune system.
Respiratory Problems
Awaab Isha died from acute respiratory distress because of the black mould in his one-bedroom flat.
Many studies have shown a direct link between the inhalation of mould spores and respiratory problems.
Children living in a home infected by black mould may experience nasal congestion and cough a lot. They may also have problems breathing, and exposure to black mould can trigger asthma attacks more frequently.
Any child with a chronic cough needs checking out, especially if there is mould in the home.
In the long term, continued exposure to black mould may cause bleeding in the lungs and young children are at risk of developing haemorrhagic pneumonia.
Skin Issues
Mould exposure can also irritate the skin. Children have weaker immune systems and living with mould may trigger skin problems, like eczema.
If you have mould in the home, your child might have itchy red skin, dryness, and swelling. Children don’t understand the dangers of picking at irritated skin so they can suffer from skin infections.
Neurological Problems
It isn’t just physical symptoms that parents must be aware of. Exposure to mould toxins can also cause neurological symptoms.
Children may experience shortened attention spans, anxiety, depression, disorientation, and dizziness.
Dealing with Mould
Mould can easily start to grow in a poorly ventilated home. An average person breathes out around 400 grams of water each day.
Water is also produced from showers, cooking, and drying laundry. If a home isn’t ventilated properly, this moisture has nowhere to go, and it creates the perfect breeding ground for mould spores.
Bathrooms and bedrooms are prime places for black mould to appear, but mould will grow anywhere where the conditions are optimal.
To learn how to prevent mould, look at home ventilation systems. These remove excess moisture from the air and replace it with fresh air pulled in from outside. Opening windows, especially in bathrooms, will also help.
Try and open your bedroom and bathroom windows for at least 20 minutes each day, to allow fresh air to circulate. If you live in a rental property, speak to your landlord about mould problems.
Don’t let them fob you off – mould in the home is dangerous and your landlord has a duty of care to sort it ASAP.