Mouldy Papers – Health Canada Recalls Children’s Books

The recent recall of two children’s Christmas books by Health Canada reminds that mould can be an issue when it comes to papers and documents – an often forgotten potential hazard in your home.

Mouldy Books
The books, called That’s Not My Reindeer and That’s Not My Santa were recalled due to possible mould contamination. The books were manufactured by a British firm in China, to be distributed in Canada.

Globalization means goods and services can have far flung origins. It is a challenge to control the conditions and environment during transportation when goods are being shipped across the globe. What we do know for certain is:

• Somewhere along the way, moisture was introduced into the packing of the books so that they were directly affected.
• That moisture didn’t dry out right away and lingered – again, likely inside the packaging.

Mould Growth
Mould only needs a few basic conditions to survive. These include:

• Temperatures between 10-35°C with the optimum temperatures between 15 and 30°C;
• Lingering moisture;
• Food – they tend to love soft materials such as cellulose, fabrics, and drywall – and paper is right up their alley.

What’s in Your Basement?
Hopefully all the parents who bought those books returned them. Children and the elderly are actually the most susceptible to the adverse effects of exposure to mould, which include a range of respiratory symptoms, skin, nose and throat irritation, persistent coughing and more.

The question you want to ask yourself is: What old papers or books do I have in my own attic, basement, closets and bookcases?

• A persistent, musty smell is often your first sign of mould.

An inspection of your papers may be called for – especially if there are documents you’ve stored for a year or more without disturbing them.

Let GS Help Solve Your Environmental Woes
If you have mouldy documents the first solution has to be simply throwing them away. You can take pictures of important documents and simply reprint them. If you have documents that you simply can’t give up, there are document specialists who can help you.

Mould in documents is often the result of surrounding mould in your home. Basements and attics – where documents are often stored – often offer mould nearly ideal conditions in which to spread. Mould’s health risks are well documented and it’s no joke. If you suspect the presence of mould in your home, we can give you expert help.

Our experienced mould removal technicians can help you with your environmental issues. In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414. Contact us for a quote today.

Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414. You’ll be glad you did.