  Condensation from plumbing can build up in carpet and cause a huge mould problem, says DIY expert Mag Ruffman (toolgirl.com). |
If you're feeling apprehensive about H1N1, I don't blame you. It's a nasty strain of flu, there's no known cure, and although the vaccine may be effective, it can also produce unwanted side effects in some people.
While panic, misinformation and skepticism are raging, let's get to the root causes of flu and colds by asking some questions and finding practical solutions.
First, why do some people always seem to get virus-related illnesses like colds and flu, while others sail through winter in perfect health?
According to Dr. Murray Grossan, author of Free Yourself from Sinus and Allergy Problems - Permanently, people most at risk for contracting flu are young children and older individuals who are in poor health. But, he says, “people of any age with a compromised immune system can get it...especially those with respiratory or sinus problems."
Okay, what causes respiratory and sinus problems in "people of any age"?
According to a 1994 Harvard study, 50% of North American households have indoor mould, mildew and moisture problems associated with a 50-100% increase in respiratory symptoms.
And a 1999 Mayo Clinic study linked nearly all of the chronic sinus infections afflicting 37 million Americans to - you guessed it - moulds. Recent studies also link moulds to the tripling of the asthma rate over the past 20 years.
Why is mould so unhealthy? According to Dr. Alex Delgado, doctoral member of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, "Mould acts as a penetrating agent to the body system, which lowers the threshold limit value of the immune system, thereby allowing opportunistic diseases to flourish." Which is an egghead way of saying we're sitting ducks if we're breathing mould.
So what can you do to safeguard your family's health in this rather dramatically enhanced flu and cold season? Obviously you want to control any of the following trouble spots first:
1) Plumbing leaks that need repair
2) Visible condensation buildup around windows and walls
3) Visible water seeping into the basement
4) Roof/attic leaks
Dry up
To control existing mould populations, get a hygrometer ($20) and maintain indoor relative humidity between 30 and 45%, using dehumidifiers as required.
Because newer houses are airtight and trap moisture, they require constant dehumidification, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Filter clean
Viruses are small. For example, the diameter of a human hair is about 100 millionths of a metre (100 microns). The H1N1 virus measures one-tenth of one micron across, without sucking its stomach in.
Fortunately, viruses travel on much larger particles (from sneezes or coughs) that can be strained from your indoor air with a decent furnace filter (i.e. Filtrete Max by 3M).
To air is divine
Ventilate, especially in bathrooms, to reduce humidity. Install fans or open the doors and windows whenever possible; indoor mould-spore counts are typically higher than outdoor counts.
Smeller's market
Mould and mildew smell badly, so do a nose check in your basement, attic, kitchen and bathrooms, especially under cupboards and around foundation walls.
And if there's a “pong” the first time you turn on your forced-air furnace each winter, you may have mould and mildew residing in your ducts. We sure did.
TIP: Have your ducts professionally cleaned and treated with anti-mould spray. We had ours done and our home no longer smells foul. (Summer condensation inside the ducts had caused mould growth in the construction debris caught in the ducts. Hence, every time we turned the furnace on, we started sneezing and coughing.)
Kill it dead
Don't use bleach to treat mould. It doesn't work. Bleach is harsh enough to kill existing surface mould but does not damage the roots of mould. That's why mould and mildew always grow back after you bleach.
Instead, use a non-toxic, earth-friendly spray approved by Health Canada. I use Concrobium Mold Control ($10 at all hardware stores). It kills mould with a fungicidal film that stops re-growth.
