Air Purifiers: Basement Mold
With more than 100,000 species in the world, its no wonder molds are found almost everywhere, including the infamous basement mold. Neither animal nor plant, molds are microscopic organisms that produce enzymes to digest organic matter and spores, which is how it reproduces. These organisms are part of the fungi kingdom, a realm shared with mushrooms, yeast, and mildews. In nature, mold purpose is the decomposition of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Without mold, we would find ourselves up to our necks in dead plant matter. However, problems arise when mold starts digesting organic materials we dont want them to, like our homes.
Once mold spores settle in your home, they need moisture to begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on. There are molds that can grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. When excess moisture or water builds up in your home from say, a leaky basement, conditions are ideal for molds, thus the name basement molds. Long standing moisture or high humidity conditions and mold growth go together.
Basement Mold Affects Asthma
Basement mold can be especially harmful to the respiratory system and cause a wide range of allergic symptoms. Generally, the majority of common molds are not a concern to someone who is healthy. However, if you have allergies or asthma, you may be sensitive to molds. You may experience skin rash, running nose, eye irritation, cough, congestion, and aggravation of asthma. A good air filtration unit can aid in easing the pain of these symptoms.
I remember when I was about ten years old I would visit my grandmothers house. She kept the baseball mitts in her basement at the end of a steep flight of wooden stairs. I would flick on the light and descend those stairs headed for the box of toys below. I remember that as I went down there was always this odor. A large puddle always sat in the far corner where I never went. My mother never liked me going down there. She would warn me and mention something about basement mold. I would laugh and think my mom was making something up. I really thought she was afraid of me falling down those steep stairs. Well, twenty years later I realize my mom wasnt crazy after all.
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