Tempest Restoration are one of the UK's leading experts in diagnosing the causes of damp and condensation, which can lead to mould. Mould is classed as a category one risk to health and, If left untreated, can pose a serious health risk.

Damp and mould will often be concealed within the building structure - for example in cavities, under floorboards and behind skirting boards. Wherever mould is evident, there is usually much more of it hidden within the building structure. We employ a wide range of sophisticated technical equipment to identify and analyse the contamination in these hidden areas.

Moulds live in the soil, on plants, and on dead or decaying matter. Outdoors, moulds play a key role in the breakdown of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Moulds belong to the kingdom Fungi, and unlike plants, they lack chlorophyll and must survive by digesting plant materials, using plant and other organic materials for food. Without moulds, our environment would be overwhelmed with large amounts of dead plant matter.

Moulds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as some plants produce seeds. These mould spores can be found in both indoor and outdoor air, and settled on indoor and outdoor surfaces. When mould spores land on a damp spot, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Since moulds gradually destroy the things they grow on, you can prevent damage to building materials and furnishings and save money by eliminating mould growth.

Moisture control is the key to mould control. Moulds need both food and water to survive; since moulds can digest most things, water is the factor that limits mould growth. Moulds will often grow in damp or wet areas indoors. Common sites for indoor mould growth include bathroom tile, basement walls, areas around windows where moisture condenses, and near leaky water fountains or sinks. Common sources or causes of water or moisture problems include roof leaks, deferred maintenance, condensation associated with high humidity or cold spots in the building, localised flooding due to plumbing failures or heavy rains, slow leaks in plumbing fixtures, and malfunction or poor design of humidification systems. Uncontrolled humidity can also be a source of moisture leading to mould growth, particularly in hot, humid climates.

Specific reactions to mould growth can include the following:

Allergic Reactions

Inhaling or touching mould or mould spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic reactions to mould are common - these reactions can be immediate or delayed. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Mould spores and fragments can produce allergic reactions in sensitive individuals regardless of whether the mould is dead or alive. Repeated or single exposure to mould or mould spores may cause previously non-sensitive individuals to become sensitive. Repeated exposure has the potential to increase sensitivity.

Asthma

Moulds can trigger asthma attacks in persons who are allergic (sensitised) to moulds. The irritants produced by moulds may also worsen asthma in non-allergic (non-sensitised) people.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis may develop following either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) exposure to moulds. The disease resembles bacterial pneumonia and is uncommon.

Irritant Effects

Mould exposure can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and sometimes can create a burning sensation in these areas.

Opportunistic Infections

People with weakened immune systems (i.e., immune-compromised or immune-suppressed individuals) may be more vulnerable to infections by moulds (as well as more vulnerable than healthy persons to mould toxins). Aspergillus fumigatus, for example, has been known to infect the lungs of immune-compromised individuals. These individuals inhale the mould spores which then start growing in their lungs. Trichoderma has also been known to infect immune-compromised children.

Healthy individuals are usually not vulnerable to opportunistic infections from airborne mould exposure. However, moulds can cause common skin diseases, such as athlete's foot, as well as other infections such as yeast infections.

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