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New research at the National Research Council is looking for new ways to detect mould, how it grows, and how to properly refurbish building materials after growth.
Dr. Hans Schleibinger is the main researcher on the project. He says this research will fill gaps left by previous studies by determining the conditions by which mould growth occurs while in non-steady environments. “We know that we don’t have steady state conditions in people’s houses. People shower, they cook, they do their laundry. So we want to simulate these real life conditions,” says Schleibinger. “To find boundary levels, to find safe conditions for indoor environments where mould definitely doesn’t grow.” Mould is a type of fungus that feeds off organic material. It becomes a problem when mould begins to grow in indoor environments. Mould begins as small microscopic particles that occur naturally in the air. The mould spores find wet organic material to feed on and begin to grow mycelium — small hair-like filaments. Moisture is needed for the mycelium to grow. As it grows, it breaks down the organic material. Most researchers have said mould growth begins above the relative humidity of 85 per cent. However, as Schleibinger points out, homes may not constantly be above this relative humidity and can still grow mould. Relative humidity is an indication of the amount of moisture in the air relative to how much moisture the air can hold at a certain temperature. So, if the air is holding half the moisture it can at a particular temperature then the relative humidity is 50 per cent. Cool air holds less moisture then warm air so as temperatures rise the relative humidity will be lower. The NRC mould growth lab aims to determine conditions at which mould grows under fluctuating temperatures and levels of humidity. This will make their results difficult to reproduce but could be useful for creating new technology that regulates these factors to prevent mould growth. Schleibinger says once this boundary is discovered new building techniques can be studied and new technologies can be tested. He says the boundary condition may help produce sensory technology that can be tied into heating, ventilation and air condition systems. “It’s tied to sensory technology and in the end more intelligent buildings,” Schleibinger says. “Demand responsive buildings which are not just sitting there but actually react to the conditions." Mould growth in real life Though this new technology could help home owners regulate the moisture in their homes, some experts say it is hard for lab results to emulate what happens in the real world. Senior researcher with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Ken Ruest says buildings are complicated specimens. Where conditions may be present in one area of a room they could be completely different in the opposite corner. Reust says more research into new building techniques may not be the answer.
“We know how to build a house so that water doesn’t get in. Building the house properly is not a solution in itself,” says Ruest. “Living conditions and mismanagement of the house, not doing appropriate cleaning can all result in mould growth.” He says often it is not the building materials or the construction that is the problem but people’s living habits within them. Often dust particles act as food for mould and the mycelium will begin to grow on materials where dust has settled and moisture is present. However, Schleibinger’s studies also look into conditions which contribute to hidden mould growth. Mould can grow within the framework of a house or behind wallpaper where it cannot be seen. Schleibinger says he hopes his research will help to detect moulds that cannot be seen by the human eye before it has a negative impact on a person’s health. Mould and your health Health Canada says people living among mould can suffer from “symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and headaches. Asthmatics are especially at risk as mould may trigger asthma attacks.” A recent article by University of Alberta family doctor Stephen Genuis states mouldy environments have also been linked to some psychological conditions including mood swings, hyperactivity and irrational anger. Moulds create chemical by-products that can be released into the air and then inhaled. The inhalation of these by-products can cause irritation, allergic reactions and immune-related illnesses. Genuis notes identifying mould as the cause of many of these illnesses is difficult because the symptoms can mirror many other diseases. Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to having adverse reactions to mould spore inhalation.
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