Buying an air purifier for mould

is not only a danger to you and your family, it can also cause major risks to the structural safety of your home. If there is mould present in your home or the workplace, swift action should be taken to protect your health and your safety. What, exactly, is mould? Under which conditions does it form? How can an air purifier for mould help? All these answers and more below.

All about mould

Mould is a type of fungus. Its main ecological role is breaking down dead organic matter. It plays a crucial part in nature by decomposing plant and animal tissue. Mould is found in most places on Earth except underwater, in certain parts of Antarctica and the Arctic, and in places that are kept artificially sterilised like clean rooms².

Mould and other fungi like mildew can be found almost everywhere indoors and outdoors in low quantities. They can range in colour but are typically green, black, brown, or grey spots or clusters. Interestingly enough, mould’s food source and the colony’s age determine mould’s colour²! Indoors, they are often found on the walls and ceilings of bathrooms, kitchens, basements, garages, crawlspaces, or other places that are dark, humid, and warm. Mould can grow on wood, wallpaper, paint, carpet, sheet rock, insulation, paper, fabric, plastic, glass surfaces, carpets, showers, and bathtubs.

Sometimes mould can be hard to detect: a good indicator that may point to the presence of mould is a musty odour. This may mean that mould is growing inside the walls of your home or building. Mould and its spores are known allergens.

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How does it grow?

Mould has a four-stage lifecycle:

1. Hyphae: threadlike in appearance, mould at this stage feeds on organic matter and begins to form clusters.
2. Mycelium: this is when mould begins reproducing asexually via cell division and where mould spores begin to form. The rate at which mould spores form is determined by oxygen levels, light exposure, and temperature.
3. Spores: mycelium releases microscopic mould spores into the air. The spores remain airborne until they find a surface with optimum water and nutrients.
• If the conditions are not yet right, mould spores can remain dormant on surfaces for years!
4. Proliferation: the above cycle repeats itself endlessly as long as the growth conditions are met.³

These microscopic spores only need three things to survive: oxygen, a cellulose-based food source, and moisture. If these needs are met, mould will continue to cause extensive damage to your home and put your health at risk.

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Symptoms of mould exposure and associated health issues

If you are exposed to mould in your home and/or workplace, you may experience mild to severe negative health effects depending upon your level of sensitivity.

Airborne mould spores are allergenic and can trigger allergic symptoms. You can inhale over a half million spores per minute without even realising! Symptoms of mould allergy may include:

• Runny nose
• Red and watery eyes
• Skin rashes (dermatitis)
• Irritation of the upper respiratory tract leading to coughing and wheezing
• Congestion
• Itchy nose
• Sneezing
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Sore throat

For individuals with asthma, mould can commonly trigger asthma attacks. Wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing are all signs of exposure to mould in asthmatics.

Allergic reactions can be immediate upon exposure or delayed as allergens accumulate in the body.

The benefits of an air purifier for mould

An excellent way of protecting your health from the dangers of mould is purchasing and installing an air purifier for mould. An air purifier can capture mould spores that enter your home before they have a chance to land on surfaces where they can grow and proliferate. This is particularly useful for those who do not yet have a mould problem but worry about it becoming an issue.

Additionally, eliminating mould spores from your breathing air, you can be protected from mould spores and other allergens. If you are someone who experiences allergies, an air purifier for mould can reduce symptoms caused by other common allergens like dust, dust mites, pet hair and dander, and pollen.

If you already have a mould problem in your home or building, an air purifier for mould can prevent mould spores from spreading to other indoor areas. By using filtration technologies to capture airborne mould spores, an air filtration device can stop mould’s reproduction in its tracks.

It is important to note that an air purifier should be combined with other intervention methods and treatments. Unfortunately, an air purifier cannot treat mould that is already established on surfaces as it prevents solely the spread of mould particles in the air.

How to choose an air purifier for mould?