Homes used to grow pot pose serious mould risk

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FruityBud

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Houses that have been used as marijuana-growing operations can pose serious threats to the health and safety of unsuspecting new occupants.

Electrical hazards and unsafe structural changes are the most serious of the threats, but the presence of mould in a house could have slow-building, long-term effects on a person's respiratory health.

A group of realtors, firefighters and civic politicians in the Fraser Valley is working to standardize the reporting of houses that have been used to grow marijuana. At present, there is no certain way to determine whether a home has been used as a drug house.

Ray Copes, director of the environmental health division at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, says the moisture and humidity associated with growing marijuana indoors creates an ideal climate for mould growth.

"If there's mould or moisture, there are a number of health effects that are associated with that," Copes said.

"Probably the most common finding is an increase in common respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or exacerbation of asthma when you look at people who live in damp or mouldy homes with visible mould growth, compared with folks who live in homes that don't have dampness or visible mould."

But mould is not isolated to homes that have been used for marijuana-growing operations.

Copes said it is estimated that as many as one-third of Canadian homes have mould growth caused by leaks, flooding or dampness. And while it is important to take measures to remove the mouldy materials from the home, he notes that no home will ever be entirely mould-free.

"Moulds are ubiquitous. They're found everywhere in nature," he said. "The key is to not set up conditions for mould growth in the homes."

There are several things that can be done to reduce the potential for mould growth in your home, according to B.C. Health Files, an online resource provided by the provincial government.

They include:

* Venting clothes dryers to the outdoors.
* Using a dehumidifier.
* Ventilating the attic and crawl spaces to prevent moisture build-up.
* Removing water sources that may contribute to mould growth, such as standing water in planters.

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Holy crap who woulda thunk. So you mean venting moisture into my attic isn't a good idea. But everyone on the forum told me it was ok. Anyone with a little common sense and a grade 6 education should know the conditions in which mold thrives.

Thanks for the post fruitybud.
 

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