Is black mold causing our cough, need professional cleaning?« Back to Previous Page

Black mold is a likely cause of your persistent dry cough, especially given the AC leak and Dubai's high humidity, which creates ideal conditions for mold growth. The continuous inhalation of mold spores can irritate the respiratory tract, causing exactly the symptoms you describe, even in otherwise healthy adults.

Cleaning it yourself with bleach is not recommended. Bleach only removes surface discoloration on non-porous materials but does not kill the root structure of the mold. More critically, improper cleaning can aerosolize a high concentration of spores, significantly worsening your indoor air quality and potentially exacerbating your health issues.

For a situation involving an ongoing water source (the AC leak), a hidden patch of mold, and correlating health symptoms, a professional inspection is strongly advised. In the UAE, remediation should follow standards like the IICRC S520. A proper assessment will identify the exact mold species and the full extent of the contamination, which is often more widespread than what is visible. They will first fix the AC leak at its source to prevent recurrence, then safely contain and remove the affected materials. The process often includes air scrubbing to remove airborne spores and post-remediation verification testing to confirm the environment has returned to a safe, normal fungal ecology.

You can request to see the lab results from the post-clearance test, which provides concrete evidence the issue has been resolved. For your health and to ensure the problem is solved correctly, contacting a certified mold remediation provider is the most effective course of action.