ould
was first "discovered" in the 1830s when it was found growing
on wet wallpaper, somewhere in Europe. In New Brunswick, it has become
synonymous with the dark - and costly - side of schooling students in
portable classrooms.
(photo: Mould
site)
Mould, also known
as Stachybotrys chartarum (also recognized as Stachybotrys atra), is a black, slimy growth that some medical experts,
environmental engineers and building scientists link to a variety of
health problems such as flu and allergic-type symptoms, nosebleeds,
diarrhea, poor concentration and chronic fatigue.
One U.S. study suggests that breathing the harmful toxins carried by
the mould's spores may cause learning disabilities in some children. The
findings are preliminary. Health Canada and the Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation (CMHC) are clear: indoor mould - of any sort - is
bad for people's health. Mould can cause allergies and respiratory
disease and the toxins it produces can weaken the immune system, leaving
children in particular, vulnerable to many illnesses. Moulds can cause
many health problems, the more serious of which are Aspergillus (a
fungus ball that forms in the lungs), allergic bronchopulmonary
aspergillosis (occurring in asthmatics and is characterized by wheezing,
low-grade fever and coughing mucus), and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (a
flu like condition). Less serious symptoms to mould exposure, that can
become chronic, are headaches, stuffy nose, difficulty breathing,
restlessness, inability to concentrate and rashes. "If you discover
mould", notes CMHC in a widely available booklet, "it's
important to destroy it quickly."
For children, mould and the musty smell it creates can be a real
source of concern. Outdoor seasonal mould, which persists
from late spring, peaks in July, and lasts until the first killing
frost, can cause a variety of complaints from rhinitis to asthma. Some
individuals suffer worse symptoms during harvest-time because of the
mould that grows naturally on wheat, grains and corn. The indoor variety
that persists all year is the main offender in our homes, schools, cars
and work places because one tiny spore can travel and from that single
spore millions of mould cells grow and develop. All they need is
moisture.
Lately we have heard a lot about mould in our schools and their
affects on children's health. The spores are so small that they are
circulated through a building through the air system and breathed into
the lungs.
To reduce exposure and the spread of moulds here are some things to
look out for:
plants in the classrooms should have properly irrigated soil that
is changed regularly
do not keep pets in a classroom; they not only add to moisture but
to a sensitive child the dander can cause severe allergic reactions,
fermented art supplies give off moulds and toxic fumes and should
be discarded in an environmentally friendly way,
air exchangers/systems not only circulate moulds but can be a
breeding ground if not properly maintained. Have the filters changed as
per the manufacturer's standards and clean piping and service systems
regularly,
in hard to ventilate areas like store rooms use particle absorbers
and check for moisture regularly,
one of the worst moisture adding agents in a school is damp
clothing and foot wear. During the winter months children's gear often
goes undried and unwashed because they do not look dirty. Mittens should
be changed daily and boot linings should be dried each night and washed
weekly.
fix any and all leaks in the building exterior that cause water
damage.
If you do find mould you
should wear protective masks to avoid breathing in the spores and clean
the area of mould and replace any mouldy tiles or carpeting. Opening the
windows each day also helps to circulate air and helps to eliminate
moisture. My experience has been that if water leaks are eliminated,
damaged or mouldy articles removed, air systems are up to code and the
windows are being opened each day, then mould will be reduced
dramatically.
In the home, mould can be found in bathrooms, basements, window
ledges, places where fresh food is stored, house plants, garbage pails,
upholstered furniture, mattresses and pretty much any place else that is
damp and not well ventilated. To combat this problem you need to
establish a good system of ventilation and lighting, use a dehumidifier,
seal up leaking windows and door draughts and immediately wipe up any
water that is lying around. To get rid of existing mould use Borax or
peroxide bleach to scrub it away; they are both anti-mould agents. After
cleaning and drying the effected area sprinkle borax or baking soda to
absorb moisture until you can fix the source.
Our car can also be a problem for children. Car sickness, with
symptoms ranging from vomiting to headaches to inability to sit still,
can be caused by motion, off-gassing vinyl chloride in plastics,
petrochemical fumes, moulds trapped in the damp flooring and seats in
your car or any combination of the above. To keep moulds at a minimum in
your car, keep the inside as dry as possible. Use good water trapping
floor mats and dry them before shutting the car up for the night. Clean
the seats and carpets regularly with cleaning agents that do not contain
chemicals. Natural cleansers and less-toxic agents such as baking soda,
borax, tri-sodium phosphate and hydrogen peroxide bleach will work
without taking the dye out of your fabric and are excellent substitutes
for harmful products that contain volatile hydrocarbons.
In the work place the same advice can be used as you would in your
home or a school. Talk to your employer about alternative solutions and
make a commitment to keep your workspace clean and moisture free.
Moulds on foods can
also cause health problems for children. Cheeses processed with fungi,
mushrooms, dried fruits, any fermented beverage, fruit or vegetable,
concentrated fruit juice and foods that contain yeast, soy or vinegar
can heighten an existing problem or create a new allergic reaction. To
lessen this problem avoid any foods that you are sensitive to, buy
fruits and vegetables that are just ripe, wash them thoroughly and eat
them right away. Keep your fridge clean and dry and use baking soda that
is changed often, to absorb moisture.
By cutting down on the amount of moulds your child is exposed to, you
can enable them to stay clear of those pesky sinus infections and
flu-like conditions that pervade. By reducing the exposure just in your
own home, you help your child to tolerate less evasive moulds when away
from home.
Two rules of thumb from a Mom who is both sensitive to mould and has
children are:
1. no matter what anyone says, if you can smell it, it is alive and
breeding and making your child sick
2. children suffer more on damp and humid days. Explain this to them
so that they know why they are feeling so out of sorts. It really is
empowering to have control over your own health!
