Mould: The menace behind the walls and under the floors

London, United Kingdom – 2013, May – There’s a menace lying behind the walls and under the floors of many homes, businesses and schools that may be causing more harm than people realise. It’s called mould, and it can develop in a multitude of locations when dampness from everyday activities like cooking, bathing and clothes drying occur. Where conditions of high moisture production, a lack of airflow and heat can provide the perfect environment for the growth of this potential health hazard. Moulds and fungus can also occur as a result of building defects, such as where dampness can rise upwards from the ground; penetrate the structure of a building and/or due to flooding.

A report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) explained, "Indoor air pollution – such as from dampness and mould, chemicals and other biological agents – is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide." The report associated approximately 1.5 million deaths worldwide with the "indoor combustion of solid fuels" causing mould.

In a study of 100 homes by Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit in Glasgow, researchers found that approximately 25% of the properties sampled contained a type of mould known to contribute to lung infections in those with compromised immune systems caused by conditions like asthma. This statistic is quite startling when one considers that asthma affects about one out of 12 adults and one out of eight children in the United Kingdom.

Whilst it’s sometimes obvious where mould is growing, it often takes a specialist, like one of the environmental health professionals at Healthyabode, using specialist surveying equipment to inspect behind the walls and timbers to accurately determine the extent of the problem. "Mould and/or damp are far more common than people think," explained company Director, Stuart Nixon. "It threatens not only the structural stability of building walls and foundations, but can have serious health implications that cannot be ignored."

Unfortunately, determining the causes of damp or mould can be technically difficult; that is why clients call Healthyabode. As independent Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s) their training and experience is such that they can determine the cause, severity of harm and impact to the occupants health and state remedial works within full reports. Sometimes, education on ventilating and heating, together with changing a lifestyle can be sufficient to minimise the ill effects; at other times a thorough clean is not enough, such as when mould has set into the fabric of the building or timbers. At these times specialist treatment is required and people who suspect that they have mould in their homes should get a professional assessment to determine the best course of action to protect their health and property.

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About Healthyabode:

Healthyabode uses a wide range of technologically advanced equipment to undertake inspections to locate mould, dampness and other threats to environmental health for private clients, solicitors, local authorities, universities and housing associations. Healthyabode offer a range of environmental protection and housing services including independent damp, timber and mould surveys, acoustic assessments and noise reports, housing disrepair surveys and immigration accommodation assessments.

Contact: Stuart Nixon / Position: Independent Environmental Health Officer

http://www.healthyabode.co.uk/

Tel: +44 (0) 1245 206 250

Mob: +44 (0) 7799 254 437

Email: info@healthyabode.co.uk

Research:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20176376

http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/43325/E92645.pdf