Title: What are Mould Spores and Why are They so Dangerous to Health? Written by Jackson Kungu
Mould spores are tiny structures produced by moulds for reproduction purposes. They are so small that we can hardly see some of them even when magnified 400 times. One cubic meter of outdoor air may contain as many as 100,000 spores. The volume of air we inspire at rest per minute is estimated at 10 litres. Therefore, in an hour we inhale close to 600,000 spores. The air in working environments including mouldy buildings may contain up to 1,000,000,000 spores per cubic meter of air. In indoor environments moulds grow on moist surfaces such as drywall, wallpaper, carpet, baseboards and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVACs). As these moulds grow, a stage is reached when they produce spores. The spores become airborne after drying out or disturbed. Why are these spores so dangerous to our health? About 20% of population is allergic to mould spores. Apart from being allergenic, spores of some mould species such as Stachybotrys contain toxic compounds called mycotoxins. Symptoms associated with mould spores may include allergy, headache and fatigue, running nose, sneezing, coughing, pneumonia and Asthma among others. Young children, elderly and people undergoing medical treatment are particularly susceptible to mould spores. How can we control indoor mould spores? It is extremely difficult to get rid of spores completely. We can, however, reduce their numbers by controlling mould growth in our houses or offices. Mould growth is associated with moisture problem as a result of flooding, leaks in roofs or plumbing and condensation in case of poor ventilation or inadequate insulation. The key to controlling mould growth is keeping our houses or offices dry by maintaining low relative humidity (below 70%) thus eliminating or slowing growth of most mould species. Any water leakage should be repaired immediately and water dried out within 48 hours. Constant monitoring for mould growth in kitchen, bathrooms, window frames, carpets and baseboards is recommended. The earlier mould is discovered cheaper and easier it is to get rid of problem.
| | Hearing health resolutions for 2005Written by Max Stein
With a New Year upon us, annual tradition of forming resolutions of self-improvement is definitely in season. While many articles about New Year’s resolutions focus on things like careers, education or relationships, this article discusses your hearing health and what you can do to make it better.For those of you don’t give your hearing any thought, because you can hear just fine, make resolution to have your hearing tested. In most cases, hearing loss is gradual, so you may not notice that you have hearing impairment until it becomes profound. A hearing test will give you peace of mind for coming year. If your hearing is healthy, you won’t have anything to worry about. On other hand, if you have developed some hearing impairment, you’ll be glad it was diagnosed early. There may be some readers out there who know they are hard of hearing, but have done nothing about it. Fear, or a sense of loss could be holding you back from enjoying life to fullest. Today’s hearing aids possess advanced technology that can improve your hearing and your lifestyle. Best of all, they’re smaller than ever. Some “completely in ear canal” (CIC) models are virtually invisible. Resolve to overcome your fears about your hearing loss and schedule a consultation with a qualified hearing aid dispenser in your area. Once you face your fears and overcome, you’ll be glad you made this resolution.
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