You may have noticed, ‘mold’ can be also spelt ‘mould’. The Merriam Webster Dictionary claims that ‘mold’ is the American version while ‘mould’ is the British version. In Canada they are commonly spelled both ways.

North Americans spend between 75 to 90% of their time indoors and as a result are exposed to a variety of indoor air pollutants. The current meteoric rise in public concern and interest regarding Air Quality and healthy environments has created an opportunity for industry to market and promote a myriad of diverse products and services. Everything from scented candles and snake oils to ozone generators and air fresheners are being advertised as the Air Quality answer to all our healthy home needs. A healthy home is not about having more, a healthy home is about living with less; less humidity and moisture, less chemicals and odours, less particulates and dust. Reducing air quality concerns in our home means living with less irritants that our bodies defence systems must address. Recognizing these conditions of poor air quality is the first step to improving your environment.

Air quality concerns can be divided into two main categories, chemical and biological. Chemical air quality concerns are introduced into your environment typically by “off gassing” of manufactured products and materials, cleaners, new furniture, construction materials, solvents, dry cleaning, air fresheners and by products of combustion.

Biological air quality concerns are generally generated, within the building environment. Biological contaminants may be skin cells and fragments, dander, dust mites, pollen, bacterial, mold and viruses. Biological contaminants thrive in moist, damp environments. By controlling the relative humidity levels in most homes, the growth of some of these biological contaminants can be minimized.

Mold, mildew and yeast are fungi. Mycology is the study of fungi. Fungi are a natural part of the environment and are everywhere. Mold is a natural part of the environment and are everywhere. It is mainly present in soil, on plants and can grow on any organic surface.

Micro fungi obtain nutrients from decomposing organic materials such as leaves, wood and paper. They excrete enzymes and digest substrate. The musty smell we experience can be associated with the enzymes and the mold digestion process of the substrate. Mold spores can be as small as .03 microns.

Musty smell = mold feeding

Please note that mildew is a pathogen found on plant leaves, NOT found with mold in your basement.

Some types of mold can colonize within 48 – 72 hours, therefore, it is very important to clean up problem moisture areas quickly. If you discover mold and you attempt to clean or remove it, be aware that some types of mold are more harmful than others. Here is a list of some of the more commonly known molds.

• Stachybatrum chartarum commonly known as ‘toxic black mold’: is a slow growing mold found on surfaces that are moist frequently. Drywall paper surfaces are a common location for this type of mold which is considered more toxic than other commonly found molds.
• Cladosporium is a common exterior mold on plants and leaves and found in abundance.
• Aspergillus species are highly aerobic and are fund in almost all oxygen-rich environments, where they commonly grow as molds on the surface of a substrate, as a result of high oxygen tension.

Healthy hibernators must clean their environments more often to maintain a healthy indoor environment. Use low VOC (volatile organic compound) soaps and cleaners to maintain your home. Strong solvents and fragrances add to our environmental load. Clean your home with low fragrance/chemical content cleaners and damp mop more frequently to reduce respirable suspended particulate. If your home has carpets, vacuum floors and furniture with a true Hepa type vacuum regularly. It is possible to hibernate in a healthy home however, your home may require some additional maintenance and monitoring to achieve this.

If you have discovered mold in your home use regular soap and water to clean it. After it is dry, vacuum it with a vacuum that is equipped with a hepa filter and be sure to fix the moisture problem that is present.

Following all these recommendations can allow us to live in a Healthy Home free of mold and other contaminants!

Often home owners are overwhelmed when they suspect that their indoor air quality is causing undue health problems. Contact Indoor Air Quality Ottawa to book an air quality investigation, we can help you get back to a good life free of mold and other contaminants – 613-237-8381.

It’s The Air You Breathe