Mouldco, Ivanhoe, VIC

Moulds are found throughout all indoor environments and growth is possible wherever moisture - either visible or invisible (vapour) - is present. Mould growth will commence within 24 hours of the presence of water, so if water has leaked into the dwelling, immediate action is necessary to reduce or eliminate mould growth. Mould is toxic by nature and mould spores are minute and not visible to the naked eye. Aerobic in nature (they use oxygen to grow) mould requires three elements to prosper - food, moisture and time. Some moulds produce mycotoxins which can be deadly. Concentrations of mould in homes, offices and schools are often too low to trigger reactions in humans - unless there is an abnormal event which triggers higher mould growth - water entry, increased humidity, lack of ventilation etc. Mould is an issue in the indoor environment for health reasons. Odour is another problem associated with mould. Airborne mould spores can trigger reactions in vulnerable people's respiratory systems some of which can be extreme and some of which have been known to cause death. Mould reproduces through mould spores which land on food source surfaces, generally porous cellulose based materials, like wood, cardboard, paper and other organic materials like fabrics (clothes). For many reasons, it is important to erradicate visible mould growth from the indoors.