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Dampness and Inadequate Ventilation are Two Causes
of Microbial Pollution
From the World Health Organization
in its report WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air
Quality: Dampness and Mould, published July 16, 2009
The presence of many
biological agents in indoor environ0ments
is attributable to dampness and
inadequate ventilation. Excess moisture on almost all indoor
materials leads to growth of microbes,
such as mould, fungi and bacteria, which
subsequently emit spores, cells,
fragments and volatile organic compounds
into indoor air. Moreover,
dampness initiates chemical or biological degradation of materials,
which also pollute indoor air. Dampness has therefore been suggested
to be strong, consistent indicator of
risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms
(e.g. cough and wheeze). The health
risks of biological contaminants of indoor
air could thus be addressed by
considering dampness as the risk indicator.
Several widely acknowledged global
trends contribute to the conditions associated
with increased exposure to dampness and
mould:
►energy
conservation measures that
are not properly implemented (tightened
building envelopes, ventilation
deficits, improper insulation);
►urbanization (migration, building type
and density, urban degradation, housing
availability and
social inequity);
►climate change
(increasing frequency of extreme weather
conditions, shifting of
climate zones); and
►the quality and globalization of
building materials and components,
construction concepts and
techniques.
These conditions increase the risks of adverse health effects due to
biological contaminants of indoor air.
Airborne Mold
Spores (colony-forming units)
The airborne concentrations of viable fungi in indoor environments
are usually in the order of a few to several thousand colony-forming units
(CFUs) per cubic metre of air. In a given
space, concentrations of fungi are highly variable and depend on such
factors as: climate and season, type of fungus, construction, age and use
of the building, and ventilation rate. They also depend largely on the
sampling and analytical methods used, making valid comparisons between
studies difficult. ------from the World Health
Organization in its report WHO Guidelines for
Indoor Air Quality:
Dampness and Mould, published July
16, 2009
Mold is a serious problem in Japanese
bathrooms. Because most Japanese people bathe in hot tubs and wash their
body outside the tubs, Japanese bathrooms tend to be muggy and warm for
most of the day. It’s an ideal environment for fungus to grow.
Kabi Mondai: Do you have a mould question or problem about Japanese mould
growth, mould inspection, mould testing, and/or mould removal and remediation?
Please email your question in English to Phillip Fry
at moldconsultant@yahoo.com
international mould expert, who is available for mould inspection and testing
services through out Japan.
Kabi Bijinesusuku-ru: Do you want to be trained and certified as a
Certified
Mould Inspector and Certified Mould Remediator
and Certified
Environmental Hygienist to become a mould professional in
Japan? Attend our mould training school in the Philippines, or be trained and
certified in your home or office in Japan with our
Study Mould at
Home distance
learning program. For more information, email training director Phillip Fry
and/or visit Ecology College Online.
Kabi Jouhougen
Now globally available! Study mould in the convenience of
your home or office at your most convenient time! |
