Athsma from Mold

Most of us think of asthma as something that runs in the family, a hereditary illness characterized by shortness of breath and chest tightening.  While this is a fairly accurate assessment of asthma, an increasing amount of employees find themselves developing this condition due to exposure to various substances in the workplace.  Particles of factory dust, chemicals and other foreign matter can be fairly easy to inhale as one goes about one’s work if proper safety and preventive equipment is not used.  Eventually, the particles accumulate in a person’s system, and an acquired form of asthma, commonly referred to as occupational asthma, is the result.  Recently, studies have been conducted on the effect of workplace mold formation and how it contributes to the formation of this ailment.  Certainly, mold spores and other by-products are notorious for floating around in many environments, leading to allergic reactions, sneezing spells and other mild concerns.  And people with asthma are more susceptible to attacks from breathing in all kinds of dust elements.  But can mold actually lead to the onset of asthma?

The latest clinical research looked into the medical histories of almost 700 patients between the periods of 1995 and 2004, with the common threads between them being that they had been exposed to mold at work, and that they all displayed problems with their respiratory systems.  The findings of the research showed that occupational asthma emerged in about 20 percent of patients, many of whom did not revert to normal even after sufficient treatment.  Almost half of these people did not return to work due to their condition.  The study concluded that persistent mold exposure can give rise to adult asthma as well as aggravate existing asthma.  Consequently, people are now being made aware of the dangers of mold growth in the workplace, and advised to take necessary preventive measures.

The best method of reducing the risk of occupational asthma is by diligently assessing whether a mold problem exists or could possibly exist in the office or work area.  Moisture is the number one indicator of potential mold infestation, and damage resulting from the same should be reported at once so that it can be repaired.  Musty odors are another sign of mold growth, and if routine maintenance of the building has not been conducted lately, it can mean that mold has started to spread in the meantime. 

If you are the employer and some of your employees are becoming sick or complaining of persistent allergy-like symptoms, you should consult a health professional at once to determine whether or not their illnesses are the result of inadequate mold cleanup at the office.  Also, do not scrimp on the expense of getting water damage and leaks repaired, as these will lead to more serious problems if left on their own.  Remember, if you neglect the warning signs of mold infestation and your employees develop asthma because of it, you may end up having to foot the bill for their health care.  The cost of making your workplace mold-free will definitely pay for itself.

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