Mould associated illnesses have been explained by some experts as hysteria, describing the mould situation as a hoax that begin in the 1970’s following several cases of legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease) caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The media, including the internet have been blamed for highlighting claims of building related illnesses and hence fanning the hysteria. There might be some truth in this which, however, does not mean mould is harmless.

While it is true, some of the illnesses cannot be attributed to mould exposure for lack of scientific data or even by any logical reasoning, there is enough evidence, though in some cases circumstantial to support claims of mould related illnesses. Reactions of human beings from mould exposure differ from one individual to another. While majority of the population may not have problems with common indoor moulds, a certain percentage will react and show symptoms of mould related illnesses when exposed to mould.

As someone who identifies moulds, I have found myself developing an instant running nose when I inhale spores and odours of certain strains of Penicillium spp.

In my opinion, the extremists (those who attribute any imaginable illness to indoor mould exposure and those who believe mould has nothing to do with any building related illness) have not helped the public to understand the truth about mould.



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