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Air quality in your home

The Ontario Lung Association has a practical website created to help you identify problem areas in your home, along with some suggested solutions. For instance, if you suspect your laundry room is the breeding ground for aggravating scents, and mould brought on by excess humidity, take the time to review the potential offenders discussed here.

Instead of scented laundry detergent you may want to switch to unscented laundry soap marked with the Canadian Ecologo. In fact, it may be wise to use laundry balls instead of soap, and finish the wash with a couple of cups of vinegar in the rinse instead of fabric softener. Another vulnerable area may be your dryer if it's not vented to the outside of the house properly, or if the hose is blocked.

Drying your clothes on an outside line, whenever possible, is a refreshing energy saver. However, in some communities, there are bylaws prohibiting the use of outdoor clotheslines. Possibly the more aggravating offender of air quality, indoors and out, is moulds. These microscopic fungi are among the most widespread living organisms. Many moulds produce offspring by releasing spores into the air; they live on animal and plant matter. Growth is encouraged by warmth and high humidity, and as they grow, they form visible woolly patches. A well-known example is common bread mould.

Indoor moulds are particularly common in well-insulated houses with inadequate ventilation. Because moulds love damp areas, look for mould in the following rooms in your house: basement, bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room. Mould can also grow behind a wall where a water pipe may be leaking.

Health Effects

Dampness in housing is associated with airway inflammation, exacerbation of asthma, increased incidence of wheezing and other respiratory symptoms, and increased incidence of upper respiratory infections. Excess moisture, high humidity, and water leakage often lead to the growth of mould.

Mould may be a trigger for those who are allergic to it, presenting as symptoms of asthma. Mould has been associated with the same list of adverse respiratory health effects as dampness, as well as changes in lung function, such as increased peak flow variability, and development of allergy to mould. Mould appears to exacerbate respiratory conditions both directly (e.g. exacerbation of existing asthma), and indirectly (e.g. increased incidence of colds and increased sensitization).

What can you do?

Monitor humidity with a hygrometer, available at hardware or home supply stores. Generally, indoor humidity should be kept between 30 and 50 per cent. Too much humidity may encourage mould growth. As well, moulds can grow in the water tanks of such devices when the water is left standing. Breathing in mists that contain these organisms

For more tips on improving air quality in and around your home, visit The Lung Association website

February 28, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink

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Comments

Good for people to know.

Posted by: Petra | Oct 27, 2008 11:56:25 AM

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