Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a multi-system, multi-symptom illness caused by inhaling the biotoxins and inflammagens produced by micro-organisms such as mould and bacteria in water-damaged buildings. When caused by a water-damaged building, CIRS is more commonly known as Mould/Biotoxin Illness.

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In a water-damaged building, a phenomenon called amplification occurs whereby certain species of mould and other toxigenic microbial agents flourish and have the resources to produce significantly more biotoxins. When these biotoxins and other microbial by-products are inhaled over time, genetically susceptible individuals can become ill with CIRS. Such individuals are highly reactive to damp/mouldy environments, similar to an allergic reaction.

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While allergies to mould do exist, CIRS is not technically an allergic response, nor is it a fungal infection. CIRS is instead characterised primarily by an overactive innate immune system. Inflammation is a natural part of the body’s response to pathogens and can be helpful in the short term, however when an individual’s immune system is able to detect but not remove biotoxins from the body, the body stays in an inflamed state that worsens over time and causes the chronic inflammatory response that CIRS is named for. For more information about CIRS, including a great summary of the scientific evidence, please go to the Toxic Mould Support Australia website.