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June 30

Mold danger, US vs. UK

I sometimes enjoy watching home renovation shows. In the past, I've usually watched shows produced in US, whereas recently I have been watching shows from the UK. One of the differences I've noticed is that the developers in the US seem to express a much greater level of concern about exposure, handling, and removal of mold growth than the developers in the UK. Obviously, mold is a problem on both sides of the big pond, but is there any reason that mold might be a bigger problem in the US than the UK? For example, do they have different (more dangerous?) mold in the US? Or maybe the US regulations require more expense in terms of handling and remediation? Of course, it might just be cultural as well, but I was wondering if there was a more concrete reason that mold in the US / UK might be treated differently. Dragons flight (talk) 09:51, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Is it because more US homes are of essentially timber construction while British ones tend to be brick? (Or is that a canard?) --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 10:18, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

See On the level:'Toxic mould' scare is a load of rot which says: 'In Britain we treat this [mould] as a minor decorative disorder, and I get a regular trickle of readers' letters asking me how to deal with it (the answer is to open the windows). But in the States the lawyers have got in on the act, found evidence that mould spores can damage health and claimed against builders, developers and even former house-owners. Courts have awarded million-dollar compensation payouts, and insurers are now writing exclusion clauses into new policies. Toxic mould, we are told, is "the new asbestos"'. Alansplodge (talk) 11:15, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

For some balance, see also Can damp and mould affect my health? by the British NHS. Alansplodge (talk) 11:18, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Mould does like hot and humid conditions - so the difference in climate is going to be a factor. There is a small health risk from spores, especially if people have certain medical conditions, but it is fairly easy to keep mould under control, and prevent it producing spores (open the windows, use a bit of fungicide, wipe it over - and all you have left is a dirty stain). Wymspen (talk) 11:21, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I suspect it is to some extent cultural. Americans sometimes seem "paranoid" about relatively insignificant risks, whereas the British have a (quite healthy imho) disdain for overcautious "health and safety" rules. In fact "'elf 'n safety" is a frequent subject of ridicule and comedy in the UK. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 11:31, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

That's funny, libertarianish Americans like to say that about Europeans. And Europeans like to say that about American gun owners. And American gun owners like to say that our criminals are worse than your criminals. And Europeans would likely say our terrorists are worse than your terrorists. And then maybe it'd devolve into an argument about whether 3,000 dead and quarter mile buildings collapsing in one attack or smaller attacks that never end is worse. For what it's worth I forgot a moldy bread in a sandwich bag in 4th grade and stopped discharging mucus when I threw it out so perhaps there's always warning (except possibly for the immunocompromised and the weak/old) Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 18:31, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

From the NHS document above:

Can damp and mould affect my health? "Yes, if you have damp and mould you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system."

From the US, the CDC said in 2011:

About 1 in 12 people (about 25 million) have asthma, and the numbers are increasing every year.

A 2009 publication ("developed in collaboration with WHO and the Health and Environment Alliance, and co-funded by the European Commission") said:

In Europe, an estimated 10–50% (depending on the country) of the indoor environments where human beings live, work and play are damp. Too much moisture makes a home stuffy and gives it a faint odour. Humid walls create a coldness that makes more heating necessary and increases energy bills. WHO is concerned about this situation because excessive dampness and mould are a threat to health. Occupants of damp or mouldy buildings are at increased risk of experiencing health problems such as respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Some people are more sensitive to mould than others, and some groups are especially vulnerable. Additional effort should be made to keep away from damp and mould babies and children, elderly people, those with existing skin problems, such as eczema, or respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma, and anyone who is immuno-compromised (e.g., chemotherapy patients).

So yes, damp and mould are health problems worth taking seriously. Carbon Caryatid (talk) 13:36, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

This Straight Dope Column is worth a read. It's short, but it briefly summarizes the history of the threat and the panic in USA. ApLundell (talk) 19:24, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Not all "molds" are equal. "Black mold" (Stachybotrys chartarum) is one implicated in human health. Actress Brittany Murphy and her husband both died of a mysterious respiratory ailment, a few months apart, and this is one suggested possible cause. See mycotoxin. StuRat (talk) 23:25, 30 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]