A disturbing new study has confirmed that exposure to toxic mold during childhood can damage the lungs for many years, into adolescence and beyond.
Researchers from the University of Bristol found that children exposed to mold in their homes have lower lung function even years later. As part of the Children of the 90's research project, they followed participants for over 30 years and found that, around ten years after exposure (at age 15), the young people had around 5 percent less lung capacity.
Living in damp, moldy homes has long been linked to health problems such as respiratory infections (including aspergillosis), asthma, and allergies. Mold, a microscopic fungus, causes these problems by releasing thousands of toxic particles into the air.
Warning signs of mold exposure include a prolonged cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and worsening asthma or other inflammatory airway diseases.
Dr. Raquel Granell, co-author of the study from the University of Bristol, emphasizes that there are practical steps to prevent or reduce the risk of mold in the home. According to her, any mold that can be smelled is serious and should not be allowed to spread. The main preventive measure is good ventilation, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. She also advises avoiding drying clothes indoors; if this is unavoidable, clothes should be placed with space between them, in warm and ventilated rooms, or use a dehumidifier.
Kitchen appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators and microwaves are considered high-risk areas for mold due to the constant humidity. A recently reported case is that of Schayene Silva, who developed kidney cancer after unknowingly using a moldy ice machine. Tests showed that she had ten times higher than normal levels of the toxin Ochratoxin, produced by the molds Aspergillus and Penicillium.
According to mold inspection experts, if appliances and damp areas are not checked and dried regularly, the remaining moisture facilitates the spread of mold to other parts of the home, causing allergies and irritations, especially in people with asthma.
Mold isn’t just limited to the kitchen. Bathroom sinks, attics, basements, and even hardwood floors are all areas at risk. Mold can start growing within 24–48 hours, but visible signs like stains or odors can take weeks or months to appear.
Mold spores cause severe allergic reactions in about 5–10 percent of the population, causing stuffy noses, sore throats, coughs, wheezing, burning eyes, and skin rashes. Black mold, the most dangerous form, produces mycotoxins that, when inhaled continuously, can cause cognitive problems, mood swings, asthma-like symptoms, headaches, muscle fatigue, and autoimmune reactions.
When the body identifies toxins in the air, the immune system activates a strong inflammatory response, releasing cytokines that spread throughout the body and can also affect the brain and endocrine system. This leads to inflammation, damage to vital tissues and cells.
Experts recommend cleaning small areas of mold with water and detergent, while using fans and dehumidifiers can help reduce humidity. However, if the affected area is larger than about 60 x 60 cm, the intervention of a professional cleaning or remediation company is required, as do-it-yourself tests are often inaccurate and risk spreading spores.
Official figures show that in England alone, in 2019, around 5,000 cases of asthma and 8,500 lower respiratory tract infections were linked to damp and mould in homes. Researchers also estimate that 1–2 per cent of new cases of seasonal allergies each year are caused by mould and damp.
Professor James Dodd, a respiratory medicine specialist, says that exposure to mold primarily affects the lungs and is strongly linked to poor asthma control, especially in children and people with existing lung diseases such as COPD. According to him, dampness and mold are preventable causes of respiratory diseases and health inequalities.
Tragic cases, such as the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mold in his apartment, show the serious consequences of neglecting housing conditions. Experts warn that ignoring mold is not just an aesthetic issue, but a serious public health risk. /GazetaExpress/
t7 live
