more about mould and mildew - all easily and PERMANENTLY removed with atmosair's bipolar ionization

Mould is the dreaded “M” word that no one wants to hear, or see, or smell.  If you’re living in a home with mould, you’re probably wondering how it’s adversely affecting you and your family’s health—and how to remove it and prevent it from coming back.
Mould growth typically occurs in out-of-sight wall cavities as a result of water damage from flooding or leaks. Before you know it, mould creates a toxic environment in your home, compromising the quality of the air you are breathing in every day.

• What causes mould?

To thrive, grow, and multiply, mould requires four ingredients: mould spores (which here in Asia are always floating around in the air), a temperature range suitable for mould growth (it grows fastest between 25 and 30 degrees C), organic or carbon-based material on which mould can grow (like wood, drywall, paper products, carpets, leather and furniture), and moisture.
Unfortunately it’s nearly impossible to control all of these factors here in Asia because mould spores are everywhere around us. However, focusing on sources of moisture is your best bet at preventing or removing mould. If you can limit the moisture, you can limit the mould. At home, the most common areas are bathrooms, kitchens, poorly ventilated rooms or closets, rooms with open windows, or other areas of high humidity and dampness.

• Mould vs. Mildew

Mildew is actually a type of mould. The term ‘mildew’ basically refers to mould that’s light in colour and powdery in texture and these mould colonies could be grey, white, or light green, and grow in a flat format without much height, meaning they aren’t as fluffy and sponge-like as some other mould growths. Mildew grows on the surface, so it can be easier to remove than burrowing mould, but it needs to be taken seriously. Some types of mildew, such as Aspergillus, are common moulds that can create toxic mycotoxins that can be very dangerous. This is why mildew can be a serious health threat, and should be treated quickly and effectively.
Sometimes you can actually see mould. There are over 100,000 species of mould and with so many variations, mould can come in a variety of colours, shapes, and textures. The most common colours of mould are grey, black, and green, but it can also be white, pink, blue, red, purple, brown—and sometimes a combination of colours.  As for textures, mould could be fuzzy, powdery, velvety, or slimy. Remember, Mildew, as explained before, is flat, powdery, and typically grey or white in colour.
Mould can also grow behind wallpaper or inside your walls. The main visible sign of mould growth is the discoloration of the wall. Even if you paint over it, mould will persist and continue to show signs on the surface.
In addition to structural elements of the home, mould may be growing on individual items as well. Mould growth can often occur on leather shoes or garments, clothes hanging in the closet, and on furniture and drapes. Because closets tend to be small and enclosed spaces with no air-con supply vents closets may often have humidity levels higher than the adjacent living space.

• Leaks and Stains

Compared to an impossible-to-miss water issue, like a burst pipe, or a leaking trap under your kitchen or bathroom sink, a small leak may not sound like that big of a deal. But, a slow leak, like that from a kitchen faucet, can quickly become a bigger problem and quickly lead to mould growth. In addition to leaks, you may see stains on the walls and ceiling leftover from moisture. In addition, the air-con vents in the ceiling may have rust or black spots, which usually is an indication of mould.

• Musty smell

Sometimes, you'll smell mould before you see it. Many times, mould is growing somewhere that is very difficult to see, like the underside of wallpaper, under carpeting, even under your furniture. That odour is called a microbial volatile organic compound (MVOC) which is a gaseous substance that off-gasses that musty odour. That ‘musty’ or ‘old, wet towel’ smell is really mould smell—an indication that not only is there mould present, but it is wet and actively growing and multiplying somewhere within the home.”

• Physical or medical symptoms

Unfortunately, mould can cause a variety of health problems. “Mould can cause infections, allergic reactions, and toxic effects in some individuals, but the clinical effects can vary from person to person,” says Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., medical toxicologist and co-medical director at the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C. “For people with intact immune systems, mould can cause—or worsen—allergic reactions and asthmatic symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing,” she says. “Fungal infections, which can involve the blood, brain, lungs, or other organs, are more common in people with weakened immune systems. Moulds can also produce toxins called mycotoxins. Some mycotoxins—like aflatoxins and ochratoxins—can cause serious illness.

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