Is black mold causing my family's sickness?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, the black mold you found is very likely the cause of your family's persistent coughing and allergy symptoms. The damp, earthy smell confirms active microbial growth. In Dubai's high humidity, mold spores become airborne and are inhaled, irritating respiratory systems—this is especially impactful for children and those with allergies.

For a patch large enough to smell, do not attempt DIY cleaning. Disturbing it will aerosolize a high concentration of spores throughout your home. The safest approach is a professional inspection and remediation. In the UAE, look for a provider that follows IICRC S520 standards for mold remediation. They will contain the area, use HEPA filtration to capture spores, safely remove the contaminated materials, and identify the source of the moisture—which is critical to prevent recurrence.

Given this is in a Jumeirah villa, the leak could be from a pipe, ground moisture, or condensation from AC units, which is extremely common here. After professional removal, request a clearance test, typically an air sample analyzed by a microbiology lab, to verify the spore count in the room has returned to normal, safe levels. This provides concrete proof the environment is healthy again for your family.