It’s not unheard of to share an office or classroom with someone who politely requests you change your fabric softener or maybe not splash on your cologne or perfume quite so heavily each morning – or at all, if you please. These people may have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, brought on by exposure to mold.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is an allergy-like problem that has been steadily gaining awareness over the past few years. It’s not new, and it’s not overly rare. Approximately 5 to 25 percent of Canadians are affected to one degree or another, but the government and medical science only recognized it as an actual illness in the early 2000s.
Mold and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is thought to be caused by significant exposure to mold as well as other chemical pollutants or allergens. In the past, toxic mold exposure in the home or workplace has lead to the development of MCS in healthy adults – something a mold inspection would catch before it resulted in this serious illness.
While mold allergies can be severe and exposure to toxic mold can lead to serious illnesses and respiratory issues, the repercussions of MCS are much more significant – many have to quit their jobs, stop going out in public and wear full-face air purification masks on airplanes.
The Symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
MCS is sometimes thought of as an allergy – the immune system overreacting to a foreign pollutant – but they’re not the same. The symptoms are very different and more extreme than most seasonal or environmental-related allergies, and include gastrointestinal issues, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, fatigue and muscle pain. Even worse, areas that are thought of as clean or sterile are often teaming with indoor air quality issues that will affect those with MCS, like hospitals for example, which use alcohol, disinfectants and various cleaners religiously. These cleaners, such as hand sanitizer, hurt indoor air quality just as much as fabric softeners, scented candles, perfumes, smoke, aerosols and other scented products. If even a small amount of any of these products are present in an enclosed space, it may render a person affected by MCS unable to even step foot inside.
Know what you’re getting into. For professional Mold Inspsections in Toronto and Ontario, Contact Moldinspections.ca today. We can help.
Mold Inspections in Ajax, Barrie, Beaverton, Bowmanville, Bracebridge, Brantford, Burlington, Caledon, Cambridge, Cobourg, Collingwood, Georgetown Guelph, Hamilton, Keswick, Kitchener, Lindsay, London , Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Muskoka, Newmarket, Niagara Falls, Oakville, Orangeville, Oshawa, Owen Sound, Peterborough, Pickering, Port Carling, Port Hope, Richmond Hill, Severn Bridge, Sarnia , Simcoe, Southwest Ontario , St Catharines, Thornhill, Toronto, Waterdown, Waterloo, Whitby, Windsor Ontario.
The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States recently advised homeowners affected by flooding in the south that they may now be sharing their homes with one particular nasty and toxic organism – mold.
Ontario faces its fair share of flooded homes due to tornadoes, sewer backups, flash flooding and melting snow. Basement flooding is also a common problem some residents face, inclement weather or not.
In Canada as a whole, insurance claims relating to basement flooding total $140 million annually from an average of between 30,000 and 40,000 incidents per year. Floods are also currently wreaking serious havoc on reservations in Manitoba, creating a state of emergency.
These issues create prime living conditions for mold, which will grow on anything organic that has a suitable moisture content, such as drywall, carpets, insulation and wood, all which are easily accessible in a flooded home.
Most organic or porous materials like carpet and ceiling tiles will need to be thrown out if they become contaminated, but the worst part of flooding will be how much else must be thrown away in the end. It’s also difficult to determine what’s completely ruined and not worth saving, or what might be salvageable.
A mold inspection can help if your basement or home is prone to or has experienced a significant flood any time in the past. Because basements stay moist, they can remain a haven for mold for years to come. The EPA also stated that exposure to mold spores brought on by a flood can result in memory loss, nervous system issues, allergy-like symptoms and respiratory issues. If those living in a recently-flooded home experience any of these symptoms, there may be a very dangerous mold infestation in the home.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation recommends taking action as soon as possible after any flooding event to mitigate the possible damage – including toxic mold.
Know what you’re getting into. For Mold Inspsections in Toronto and Ontario, Contact Moldinspections.ca @ 416.575.6111 or toll free @ 1.866.310.4219. We can help.
Mold Inspection Services in Ajax, Barrie, Beaverton, Bowmanville, Bracebridge, Brantford, Burlington, Caledon, Cambridge, Cobourg, Collingwood, Georgetown Guelph, Hamilton, Keswick, Kitchener, Lindsay, London , Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Muskoka, Newmarket, Niagara Falls, Oakville, Orangeville, Oshawa, Owen Sound, Peterborough, Pickering, Port Carling, Port Hope, Richmond Hill, Severn Bridge, Sarnia , Simcoe, Southwest Ontario , St Catharines, Thornhill, Toronto, Waterdown, Waterloo, Whitby, Windsor Ontario.