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Monday, July 28, 2008
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Mould Allergy (1)
Moulds and fungi
These are organisms prevalent both outdoors in plants and gardens but also in foodstores and within the home. They begin life as microscopic spores which settle, germinate and produce filamentous mycelia. Fungi produce a definite fruiting body at intervals along the mycelium which produces more spores. Moulds have only microscopic bumps or nodules representing the seed producing body. The spores are released into the air and carried by the wind to a further growth site. In the common mushroom fungus the edible part is the fruiting body and the mycelia are beneath the ground.
Moulds in the home
Moulds are fairly ubiquitous but the most important site for allergy is the home.
Moulds require moisture to grow. In a structurally sound house condensation around the windows is important. In houses of poor repair, leaks from plumbing , rising damp and faulty or non-existent damp courses, damp patches on walls due to the cavity wall becoming “bridged”, porous plaster or faulty water drainage from roofs or leaking roofs.
