The invisible danger inside your home—why experts are sounding the alarm
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Health issues can be frustrating, especially when the cause remains a mystery despite endless medical tests and treatments.
For one young Aussie woman, years of debilitating symptoms led to drastic measures—yet the true culprit was something far more insidious, lurking in plain sight.
What she uncovered has sparked a larger conversation about a hidden threat affecting countless homes across the country.
For years, Ellie Randazzo endured relentless health struggles that baffled doctors, leaving her desperate for answers.
What began as recurring sinus and ear infections escalated into nerve pain so severe that, at just 18, doctors even suggested a hysterectomy to alleviate her suffering.
Despite undergoing multiple invasive procedures, nothing brought relief—until a simple but dangerous culprit was uncovered in her home.
Mould, a common yet often overlooked household issue, had been silently wreaking havoc on her body for nearly two decades.
‘It’s such a monumental issue,’ Ellie said.
She was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) in December 2024, conditions triggered by prolonged mould exposure.
MCAS caused severe allergic reactions, including hives, swelling, and breathing difficulties, while CIRS left her with a multi-symptom illness stemming from toxic mould exposure.
Ellie’s condition forced her to leave a lucrative mining job after nerve damage from multiple surgeries made it impossible for her to operate heavy machinery.
She lived in various parts of Australia, from the Northern Territory to Western Australia and New South Wales, each with high humidity and frequent flooding—ideal conditions for mould growth.
Reflecting on her childhood, she realised her health had always been worse in these regions, even as early as five years old.
‘Upon reflection, I realised why I would get sicker in these areas and it was due to mould,’ she said.
Living in northern NSW, where flooding has been severe in recent years, she suspected many of her neighbours were unknowingly facing similar health risks.
‘People are forced to live in mould because there isn’t anything you can really do about it,’ she said.
Mould in homes was not a new concern—others had spoken out about their own struggles, including former *Big Brother Australia* contestant Katie Williams, who suffered from asthma and skin rashes for 18 months.
An expat also shared her experience of severe hives and allergic reactions after moving into an Australian rental property.
Dr Nicola Willand from RMIT’s School of Property, Construction and Project Management explained that there were no official statistics on mould prevalence.
However, a study in Victoria found that over 20 per cent of randomly tested homes were contaminated.
‘In a housing crisis, a rental crisis, that we’ve got at the moment, renters are not able to choose a home that is mould-free,’ she said.
Ellie found herself trapped in a mould-infested home with no financial means to move, her savings exhausted after years of medical expenses.
‘I have nowhere else to go, I can’t afford a new lease or a bond because I’ve lost everything,’ she said.
Relying on a Disability Support Pension, she launched a GoFundMe to help her afford a mould-free home and essential medication.
‘I am having to choose between medication and food or fuel,’ she said.
With a combination of antihistamines, mast cell stabilisers, digestive enzymes, and antifungal treatments, she finally started to feel better.
‘It’s blown me away how quickly I’ve responded,’ she said.
Now, she hoped to rebuild her life after losing nearly everything to an invisible threat she never saw coming.
‘It’s been bittersweet because I’ve had to lose everything to get here,’ she said. ‘I am excited for the future now and I haven’t been able to say that in a long time.’
In a previous story, an expat shared her shocking experience after moving into an Australian rental, where an unexpected issue wreaked havoc on her health.
She described the conditions as ‘crazy’ and was left speechless by what she discovered. Could your home be at risk too?
Read more here.
With mould exposure affecting so many homes across the country, do you think enough is being done to address the issue? Are renters and homeowners being left to fend for themselves?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
For one young Aussie woman, years of debilitating symptoms led to drastic measures—yet the true culprit was something far more insidious, lurking in plain sight.
What she uncovered has sparked a larger conversation about a hidden threat affecting countless homes across the country.
For years, Ellie Randazzo endured relentless health struggles that baffled doctors, leaving her desperate for answers.
What began as recurring sinus and ear infections escalated into nerve pain so severe that, at just 18, doctors even suggested a hysterectomy to alleviate her suffering.
Despite undergoing multiple invasive procedures, nothing brought relief—until a simple but dangerous culprit was uncovered in her home.
Mould, a common yet often overlooked household issue, had been silently wreaking havoc on her body for nearly two decades.
‘It’s such a monumental issue,’ Ellie said.
She was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) in December 2024, conditions triggered by prolonged mould exposure.
MCAS caused severe allergic reactions, including hives, swelling, and breathing difficulties, while CIRS left her with a multi-symptom illness stemming from toxic mould exposure.
Ellie’s condition forced her to leave a lucrative mining job after nerve damage from multiple surgeries made it impossible for her to operate heavy machinery.
She lived in various parts of Australia, from the Northern Territory to Western Australia and New South Wales, each with high humidity and frequent flooding—ideal conditions for mould growth.
Reflecting on her childhood, she realised her health had always been worse in these regions, even as early as five years old.
‘Upon reflection, I realised why I would get sicker in these areas and it was due to mould,’ she said.
Living in northern NSW, where flooding has been severe in recent years, she suspected many of her neighbours were unknowingly facing similar health risks.
‘People are forced to live in mould because there isn’t anything you can really do about it,’ she said.
Mould in homes was not a new concern—others had spoken out about their own struggles, including former *Big Brother Australia* contestant Katie Williams, who suffered from asthma and skin rashes for 18 months.
An expat also shared her experience of severe hives and allergic reactions after moving into an Australian rental property.
Dr Nicola Willand from RMIT’s School of Property, Construction and Project Management explained that there were no official statistics on mould prevalence.
However, a study in Victoria found that over 20 per cent of randomly tested homes were contaminated.
‘In a housing crisis, a rental crisis, that we’ve got at the moment, renters are not able to choose a home that is mould-free,’ she said.
Ellie found herself trapped in a mould-infested home with no financial means to move, her savings exhausted after years of medical expenses.
‘I have nowhere else to go, I can’t afford a new lease or a bond because I’ve lost everything,’ she said.
Relying on a Disability Support Pension, she launched a GoFundMe to help her afford a mould-free home and essential medication.
‘I am having to choose between medication and food or fuel,’ she said.
With a combination of antihistamines, mast cell stabilisers, digestive enzymes, and antifungal treatments, she finally started to feel better.
‘It’s blown me away how quickly I’ve responded,’ she said.
Now, she hoped to rebuild her life after losing nearly everything to an invisible threat she never saw coming.
‘It’s been bittersweet because I’ve had to lose everything to get here,’ she said. ‘I am excited for the future now and I haven’t been able to say that in a long time.’
In a previous story, an expat shared her shocking experience after moving into an Australian rental, where an unexpected issue wreaked havoc on her health.
She described the conditions as ‘crazy’ and was left speechless by what she discovered. Could your home be at risk too?
Read more here.
With mould exposure affecting so many homes across the country, do you think enough is being done to address the issue? Are renters and homeowners being left to fend for themselves?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
