What You Should Know About Mould Allergies And Other Related IllnessesWritten by Jackson Kungu
Mould (also spelt as mold) produces tiny reproductive structures called spores. Spores are released in enormous numbers and disseminated in air so that they are found almost everywhere. Some mould species also produce by-products called mycotoxins which can also become airborne. Several mycotoxins are highly toxic or carcinogenic. One out of every five people is likely to react to normal spore concentration by developing "hay fever" or asthma. Prolonged or repeated exposure to high concentrations of mould spores can result to sensitization even to healthy individuals. Mould related illnesses include: * lower respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, * respiratory infections such as aspergillosis, * allergic reactions, including allergic asthma and bronchitis, * unspecific symptoms, such as eye and skin irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Which Are The Common Moulds And Why Do They Grow Indoors? More than 150 mould species have been reported from indoor environment. Fortunately, not all these are harmful to most people. Moulds will grow virtually everywhere indoors as long as nutrients and conditions for growth are favourable. We commonly see moulds in kitchen, bathrooms, ceilings and in basements of houses and other buildings. Moulds require moisture, nutrients and suitable temperature for them to grow. The level of moisture (usually referred to as water activity) in building material determines not only whether mould will grow or not but also types that colonize material. Damp materials with a water activity value equal to or greater than 0.90 (equivalent to 90% relative humidity) are usually colonized by strains of Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichoderma spp., Exophiala spp., Stachybotrys spp., Phialophora spp., Fusarium spp., Ulocladium spp., and yeasts such as Rhodotorula spp. Growth of these moulds is an indication of very damp to wet conditions. Materials with a water activity value ranging from 0.90 - 0.85 are colonized by Aspergillus versicolor while those with water activity values of 0.85 or slightly less are colonized by Aspergillus versicolor, Eurotium spp., Wallemia spp., and Penicillium spp., such as Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium aurantiogriseum.
| | Facts Concerning Indoor Moulds And Their Health EffectsWritten by Jackson Kungu
We have heard or seen on advertisements phrases like toxic mould or black mould! These phrases create fear, panic and confusion. People have spent thousands of dollars in mould remediation or disposed off household items including clothes because of mould contamination. Are these decisions always based on facts or fear? It is a difficult question to answer. The objective of this article is to provide some basic facts about mould and associated health effects to help those concerned with mould make cost-effective decisions.Three Things You Should Know About Mould. * Mould growth is a fact of life for almost all industrial and indoor environments. However, mould growth can be controlled by providing adequate ventilation and maintaining indoor humidity levels between 30-60%. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mould growth will often occur, particularly if moisture problem remains unnoticed or un-addressed for more than 48 hours. The key to mould control is timely maintenance and prompt repairs. * Not all moulds are harmful but to be safe it is better to treat all moulds as potentially harmful. The colour of mould does not determine whether it is harmful or not. Therefore black mould is not necessarily bad mould. Mould related health effects depend on: * types of mould present, * amount of mould one is exposed to and for how long, * individual health status or sensitivity. Children, elderly and sick people are more vulnerable to mould. * It is difficult to eliminate all mould spores in indoor environment. However, levels can be minimised by controlling growth. Monitor mould growth by looking for water stains or discoloration on ceiling, walls, baseboards, floors, and window sills. Why Be Concerned About Indoor Mould and Bacteria Growth? *Health Risk. Mould pose health risks. As they grow indoors, moulds produce spores and/or chemical compounds into air. The health effects associated with these spores and chemicals may include runny nose, eye irritation, cough, congestion, aggravation of asthma and respiratory problems, headache, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, skin rash and other allergic reactions. Individuals with weak immune systems may also get infected by certain moulds as a result of exposure. * Legal Issues. Those responsible for building maintenance or health and safety of building occupants, contractors and other professionals involved in building operations are at risk of being sued if occupants get sick from mould growth. * Material Damage and Impairment of Processes. Mould if allowed to grow, can impair functioning of many processes from air conditioning units to electrical circuits. Surfaces of materials on which mould is growing get stained or discoloured and may disintegrate over time. Wood-rotting moulds are capable of weakening wooden structures.
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