Mould and mildew have been around since the beginning of time, why is there so much fuss about it now?

Since the 1950’s we have been attempting to improve the indoor environment by reducing heat loss, adding air conditioning and controlling air flow. This had the unfortunate side effect of reducing a buildings ability to dry out when it got wet. In the 90’s this was coined ‘sick building syndrome’. Mould wasn't the only culprit but was one of the many IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) problems that developed.

The symptoms may be linked to high levels of employee sickness or absenteeism, lower productivity, low job satisfaction and high employee turnover.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a combination of ailments (a syndrome) associated with an individual's place of work (typically, but not always, an office building), though there have also been instances of SBS in residential buildings. A 1984 World Health Organization report into the syndrome suggested up to 30% of new and remodelled buildings worldwide may be linked to symptoms of SBS. If this is happening in your building one of your solutions is pollutant source removal, modification, and remediation. Please contact a professional before anything as you can make the problem more severe by taking unknown steps.

The symptoms include:

• Headache
• Eye, nose, or throat irritation
• Dry cough; dry or itchy skin
• Dizziness and nausea
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to odors

Some of the toxins that may be present in a "sick" buildings include synthetic fibers in furniture often formaldehyde, dust mites, mold, mildew, cigarette smoke, VOCs, carpet and gasses released from fabric, to name only a few.