Overcoming the Language Barrier – Mould and Scientific Jargon Edition

July 23, 2024

With concerns around mould ever more prevalent for both insurers and policyholders, is the complexity and often lack of context around the scientific language use hampering our understand of the real issues?  

Insurance claims where mould is an issue have seemingly been increasing over the last decade. Increased public awareness through greater discussion of the issues both in the media and at government level means that mould is now very much a claims issue to be considered following any incident involving water damage.  

As an insurance professional, time and again you will be presented with reports, test results and commentary relating to mould contamination. Whether these are from damage management contractors, consultants, laboratories or other practitioners, information is plentiful. However, to quote the author Neal Stephenson: ‘all information is noise until you break the code.’ Too frequently, scientific jargon becomes the code that needs to be cracked, so how do we do that?  

How on earth are you, as the reader, meant to draw conclusions to resolve a claim when the evidence is hiding in pea soup thick with jargon? Spores per cm³, primary, secondary and tertiary moulds, Stachybotrus chartarum, mycotoxins, hyphae, microscopy colony forming units… What in the world does it all mean? 

Of course, appropriate scientific terminology and presentation of evidence in a methodical manner is a key part of the scientific process. However, science is, and always has been a way for us to understand that which we do not know.  

Science should be there to shed light on the problems and questions that we face and provide objective clarity, in this case, on the extent mould in a property. Unfortunately, we have seen that within the realms of mould and insurance claims, purposeful use of overly complex and uninterpretable scientific language is putting up walls and creating greater ambiguity than ever.  

An example of scientific language that can cause confusion and concern:  

Assume you have no prior knowledge of the native animals of the UK. What would you think if you were told that at some point, there is every chance your home could be invaded by mus musculus? The words conjure the image of a powerful and brawny creature likely to wreak terror on your home.  

In reality, mus musculus is the scientific name for the common house mouse, comfortably a more palatable reality than the concept conjured by its lengthy scientific title.  

Image: Mus musculus – expectation vs reality 

It is crucial for insurers seeking professional advice regarding a mould issue, that the science is provided with clarity, context and above all else, conclusions relevant to the resolution of the claim.  

What does this Jargon mean? 

If you were told that following testing a property has a significant presence of Penicillium Rubens Wisconsin, what does that actually mean?  

Firstly, Penicillium Rubens Wisconsin is commonly found in water damaged properties, due to this species need for moisture and ability to thrive in harsh conditions such as fluctuating temperatures. It is not unexpected to find it. But what is it? It is an incredibly common mould, and not known to be harmful to healthy individuals i.e. if you aren’t medically vulnerable, you are likely to tolerate exposure to it. In fact if you’ve ever taken the antibiotic Penicillin you have consumed a by produced by the family of Penicillium which Penicilllium Rubens belongs to.

Whilst of course exposure to high levels of microbial contamination isn’t good, especially for medically vulnerable people, and prolonged exposure to a damp environment is not optimal for anyone, the presence of mould (such as Penicillium Rubens Wisconsin)  Merits further understanding of the context in which it is present, the cause of its prevalence, rather than on the weight of its name alone. 

So what does all of this mean for insurers?  

If we can remove the source of moisture, this species will not survive. The property needs to be decontaminated and dried with all the precautions taken relative to the vulnerability of the occupants. Mould jobs can be straightforward if we can contextualise the scientific jargon to avoid unnecessary alarm, concern and an over zealous response.  

At DF&A, we provide a unique combination of practical, technical and scientific expertise to provide you with the context and resolution you need to handle claims quickly and cost-effectively. For more information on our mould testing services, please follow the link below: 

https://www.davis-french-associates.co.uk/environmental-testing/mould/