Health and social impacts of exposure to mould-affected housing in Australia: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the experiences of Australian residents living in mould-affected homes; the perceived physical and mental health effects of indoor mould exposure; and personal, social, and institutional barriers to remediation of homes affected by mould. Methods Using a multi-method approach, this study combined analyses of data from semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted in Melbourne (n =11) with open-ended responses to a large national household survey on mould exposure in Australia (N =598) to explore people's direct experiences of living in mould-affected housing. Findings are presented as a narrative description. Results Participants reported mould exposure to be associated with poor physical health, including respiratory and allergic symptoms and exacerbation of chronic illness. Participants also reported detrimental effects on their mental wellbeing, reporting anxiety, stress, decreased self-esteem, and decreased feelings of safety. Numerous barriers to remediation were identified, including a lack of knowledge of appropriate actions, costs, and time needed to arrange and/or conduct remediation works. Residents of the rental sector faced additional challenges, including dependence on the quality of landlord-tenant relations and lack of effective policy enforcement. Conclusions These findings support a policy focus on initiatives to assist rental tenants who have mould in their homes and to provide more information to homeowners on strategies for mould removal. The study underscores the need for better regulatory mechanisms to enforce minimum standards for buildings and for health assessments and treatments to consider indoor mould exposure.