What are Moulds? Moulds are an underestimated and unacknowledged cause of a great deal of misery amongst allergic people. They can cause a wide range of symptoms including asthma, allergic rhinitis, depression and joint pain. In the past treatment has needed to be with toxic fungicides. Now the nillergen Indoor Allergy Range can be used with confidence that it is effective, safe and easy to use.
People tend to think of moulds as a problem in older, more dilapidated buildings. In fact, many modern homes easily provide the 3 things that moulds need to survive and reproduce – moisture, oxygen and something to eat. The “something to eat” takes many forms and moulds live happily in basements, closets, bathrooms and fresh food storage areas and on house plants, humidifiers, dustbins, refrigerated drip trays, mattresses, upholstered furniture, foam rubber pillows, wall cavities, wood floors, carpeting, tiles, acrylic paint and plasterboard. The perfect environment is created by damp, leaks or floods coupled with poor ventilation.
Moulds reproduce by producing tiny spores that become airborne and it is these that are ingested or inhaled. Air conditioning, vacuuming and building work are the worst culprits as physical disturbance helps to disperse the spores. The majority of moulds produce allergens so jeopardise the health of immune compromised individuals - the very young, the elderly, the sick and of course, people who are predisposed to asthma, rhinitis and other allergies. There are some species that produce mycotoxins and these are classed as highly dangerous.
Indoor moulds have been divided into 3 hazard classes: Hazard Class A – Mycotoxin producers that are highly hazardous to health and must be dealt with immediately Hazard Class B – Moulds that may cause allergic reactions to occupants if present indoors over a prolonged period of time Hazard Class C – Includes fungi not known to be a hazard to health but may cause economic damage so preferably not present
The Class A and B moulds are found in kitchens and bathrooms, on mattresses and carpets, on wallpapers and window frames, in basements and cellars and in flower pot soil. In fact there can be over 100,000 species of mould found in the home. Our nillergen Indoor Allergy Range can be used safely and effectively to treat them all.
As well as using the allergy range, it is important that you make some minor lifestyle changes as well, particularly if mould is a problem in your home or if you or anyone in the home is allergic to mould.
What to do to eliminate and prevent mould growth
Use the nillergen Allergy Range to eliminate and neutralise moulds in the air, on surfaces and in the washing.
Ventilate your home especially after having a shower. Open the windows until they are clear of condensation.
Air your bed on a daily basis. This not only reduces the humidity and chance of mould growth, it also reduces the potential for dust mite proliferation.
Sterilise your mattress and bedding using the Raycop Bed Vac.
Use a relative humidity monitor or humidistat of some sort to let you know what the relative humidity in your home is. If it is much over 50% we advise the use of a dehumidifier.
Always dry your clothes outside or in an externally vented dryer.
Never dry your clothes on a radiator as this increases the relative humidity encouraging mould growth.
Remember that moulds can cause symptoms other than those related to the respiratory system. Mould can also affect the brain causing depression and anxiety and can also affect arthritis.
Further information on specific moulds is available as a PDF.
An interesting article written by Dr Diana Samways, herself a mould allergy sufferer, can be found in our Allergy Information.
The allergy information included in this website is intended for information purposes only and is not to be used as a substitute for consultation with a medical practitioner.
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SerSu Pollution Protection is recommended for people bothered by vehicle exhausts - diesel and petrol, off-gassing from new furniture, synthetic carpeting, curtains and blinds, dust, pollens, moulds and heavily perfumed flowers, aircraft pollution and factory emissions, fumes from gas, oil, poorly serviced air-conditioning and central heating systems.
It is also recommended for people bothered by insecticides, paints and varnishes, cleaning fluids, glue, foam, latex, new wood and wood treatments
