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| Mildews, Mould and Mould Spores |  |
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Almost all buildings, boats and caravans left unattended without adequate ventilation will ultimately suffer from damp problems. One of the major consequences of damp conditions is that dampness provides an ideal breeding ground for numerous types of moulds and mildews.
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 We have all seen the visual consequences, the little black spots and stains and
walls, and detected that characteristic strange musty smell, but just what are
the health consequences of living or working in an environment like
that?
Unfortunately there are lots of types of moulds – black moulds,
toxic moulds, allergenic moulds to select just a few, and they come in tens of
thousands of species. (Some scientists believe that there are probably millions
of species of moulds that we have yet to identify). In most cases, and in normal
background concentrations, these moulds do us little or no harm at all. However,
as mould levels increase, they can have an increasing affect on people,
especially those that are prone to allergies, those that suffer from respiratory
problems such as asthma, and anyone who suffers from a suppressed immune system.
Even healthy people may suffer when mould concentrations get too high.
Moulds can not only exacerbate respiratory or allergenic problems, they can also
cause irritation (skin, eyes etc.), can in some species actually be infectious,
and even toxic to the human body. There is even some scientific evidence that
living in an environment where moulds are present can double the chances of a
child developing asthma. See US Newswise report
Moulds spread via airborne spores, so when a spore lands on something
that can provide it with food (something organic) and water, it will develop and
grow. For some people, even the airborne spores are sufficient to produce a bad
allergenic reaction. However, as the mould digests its food source, the
chemistry involved means that a classification of chemicals known as Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are produced. These VOC’s come in a huge range of
classes and type and whilst many of them are only irritants to humans (inducing
runny eyes, a streaming nose etc.) some can be very harmful. It is the VOC’s
that produce the characteristic musty decaying smell we all notice in somewhere
with ideal damp conditions (for moulds!).
Many species of mould can also
produce compounds known as mycotoxins which are toxic to other species,
including human beings. Some of these chemicals are considered to be highly
dangerous to people, but there is little research to back up the information.
What is known is that symptoms from contact with these toxins can include
flu-like symptoms, fatigue, respiratory problems, and even depression. Some of
the toxins are known to be carcinogenic (cancer causing).
Mildews, wet
rot (several species) and dry rot (one species) are some of the most common
moulds that we humans encounter. All are associated with high humidity and damp
sources but almost all can be also controlled with better ventilation.
More detailed information can be found at the Californian Environmental
Health Investigations Branch, see EHIB and type in mold [USA
spelling] in the search box, or see the Environment Safety and Health Online
site’s topics on
moulds.
Home Page.
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| Last update on: 1st Dec 2006 |
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| Products
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There are six products in the SolarVenti range. Under ideal sunny conditions the smallest unit, the SV2 has a minimum airflow of 20m³/Hour whilst the largest, the SV30 unit has a minimum airflow of 120m³/Hour.
The newest product, the SV30H Plus, is a hybrid version of the SV30 which additionally provides Solar Water Heating. |
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