Exposure to black mould is especially dangerous for those with underlying health conditions and allergen sensitivities, and has been linked to biotoxin-related illness chronic inflammatory response syndrome, or CIRS.
Morton is immunocompromised and suffers health challenges. The 29-year-old is terminally ill with a muscle and nerve degenerative disease. She uses a wheelchair and has been profoundly deaf for the past 10 years. The next stage of her disease will rob her of vision. “Then it’s organ failure.”
Since the mould appeared, she says she’s been hospitalised five times. “I’m currently coughing up blood because the mould is killing my throat … my partner has eczema, but it’s never been this bad.
“We’re both asthmatic, so we can’t breathe properly.”
Architectural scientist and mould expert Tim Law says the health impacts of mould exposure are not widely understood, but a federal inquiry in 2018 brought attention to the issue.
“The inquiry put pressure on a lot of parties to deal with this … and keep condensation management on the front burner,” he says.