Chronic Illness Hell: Woman's Life Destroyed by Mould Exposure at Work
A Lambton woman believes that prolonged exposure to high levels of mould in her workplace has led to a severe chronic illness, causing debilitating symptoms that have upended her life. Debbie Savage worked at the Resmed sleep clinic on Hunter Street in Newcastle for approximately two years, where she and customers frequently complained about a persistent damp smell in the old building.
Workplace Conditions and Health Impact
Ms Savage reported that the building, which sat on piers, allowed water to seep in underneath, creating ideal conditions for mould growth. A building inspector later confirmed the ceiling was black with mould. She left her job in April after falling ill the previous December, relying on worker's compensation until it was terminated. Resmed shut the clinic permanently just two days later, effectively walking away from the issue.
In a March 2025 email, a senior Resmed manager suggested running air-conditioners to circulate air and reduce dampness, acknowledging it wouldn't fix the underlying problem. Renovations were put on hold, with the company stating they were working through issues with the landlord. Resmed has not provided further comment on the matter.
Legal and Financial Struggles
Ms Savage is now taking legal action against insurers to recover lost income and medical expenses, having spent $10,000 on diagnoses and treatments. She was on worker's compensation for only three months before being cut off, forcing her to rely on Centrelink payments despite previously earning a good salary. "It's destroyed my life," she said, emphasizing the financial and personal toll.
Doctors diagnosed her with chronic fatigue, a condition she had never experienced before. To investigate further, she paid a microbiologist and mycologist $1000 to test the Resmed shop for mould. The report revealed five mould types at levels tenfold higher than national US geometric means, indicating a significant health risk, especially for those with chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS).
Medical Insights and Under-Recognition
Ms Savage believes she has CIRS, a condition characterized by systemic inflammation from mould toxins. Dr. Anjana Arunachalam, a Melbourne GP, confirmed CIRS as a legitimate illness, explaining that mould toxins inhaled into the bloodstream can cause chronic inflammation in about 25% of the population. Symptoms include brain fog, muscle soreness, joint pain, fatigue, and air hunger, severely impacting patients' ability to work or care for family.
However, CIRS is not widely accepted in Australia's conventional medical community, making it difficult for patients like Ms Savage to find recognition and treatment in Newcastle. Dr. Arunachalam noted that awareness may improve as research, such as a Macquarie University study identifying 14 diagnostic biomarkers for CIRS, gains traction.
Broader Implications and Research
A 2018 Senate inquiry into biotoxin-related illnesses recommended federal government research into CIRS-like syndromes for diagnosis and management. From 2022 to 2025, a $1 million Macquarie University project found key biomarkers, though the federal Department of Health has compared CIRS symptoms to chronic fatigue syndrome and ME/CFS. The government supports developing clinical guidelines for GPs to manage patients with unexplained symptoms.
Emerge Australia, representing those with ME/CFS and long COVID, acknowledges that mould exposure can precede symptom onset in some cases. CEO Anne Wilson stated that mould-related chronic illness is under-recognised in complex conditions, highlighting a gap in medical understanding and support.
This case underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, research, and workplace safety measures to address the health risks posed by mould exposure, as individuals like Ms Savage continue to suffer without adequate recognition or recourse.
