Can Air Purifiers Help with Mold Problems?

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 by Janice-Scrim

Respiratory difficulty. Allergies. Sick Building Syndrome. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Fibromyalgia. Cancer. Death.

Toxic mold can be responsible for serious conditions, illnesses and even death. In the 1930’s Stachybotrys Chartarum, or green mold, was responsible for the deaths of farm animals in Russia after it was found growing on wet grain used for feeding the animals.

In 2005, mold toxin made its way into pet food supply, which consequently led to the death of dozens of dogs.

Earlier that same year, after 2-year old Neveah Lair died, her mother along with 68 other apartment tenants filed a lawsuit, blaming the building for not addressing its mold problem.

There have been thousands upon thousands of other similar stories about the health consequences of mold.

Mold illness has become a controversial issue. Just as asbestos was the health nightmare of the 1980’s and 1990’s, buildings contaminated by mold biotoxins have become the scourge of the 21^st century.

Mold spores may be found lying dormant on almost every surface. Unless large numbers of spores become airborne, there is usually little problem. However, when mold spores are on a surface with appropriate moisture content, nutrients, and temperature, the spores will germinate and mold will grow. Ideal breeding grounds for mold are kitchens, bathrooms and basements, but virtually any place will do.

In just 48 hours, a moist environment combined with room-temperature conditions and an organic food source can lead to mold growth.

3 Signs of a Potential Mold Problem

       1.      High Humidity

If you live in a high-humidity area, then you should always be wary of mold. A relative humidity (RH) level of greater than 55% promotes the growth of mold and other fungi. Monitor the rooms of your home, and use a dehumidifier if need be.

       2.      Water Damage/Flooding

The more moisture mold is exposed to, the more it thrives. When water damage or flooding occurs, the damp environment is conducive to aggressive mold growth. If water damage remains hidden, or if it takes several days to dry out flooding damage, mold has ample opportunity to grow.

        3.      Musty/Mildew Smell

Mold often grows in areas that are unseen, like behind walls, in crawl spaces or beneath a carpet or flooring. If you smell a musty/mildew odor, it may be a sign you have a mold problem. Further investigation is recommended.

Can Air Purifiers Help with Mold Problems?

The answer is yes and no.

1.  YES: Air purifiers are very effective in removing mold spores, when equipped with the right filtration methods. And when it comes to mold, there are definite musts for an air purifier.

Mold affects indoor air quality in three ways:

• It contaminates the air with respirable particles
• It contaminates the air with chemical mycotoxins
• It leaves an unpleasant and persistent musty odor in the air

To address these issues, the ideal air purifier to combat mold will combine 3 essential technologies: HEPA, UV and a deep bed of activated carbon.

• The HEPA filters work to remove 99.97% of airborne mold particles
• The UV light then sterilizes any mold spores that are not trapped by the HEPA filter
• The deep carbon bed filter creates increased dwell time in the air purifier, which is key to adsorbing the strong odors and gases associated with mold

AllerAir recommends the following two air purification systems for mold:

5000 Exec with UV for general-purpose mold applications.

• 18 lbs. of carbon, 2.5” carbon bed
• Medical-grade HEPA
• UV light

AirMedic+ with UV for a more aggressive mold solution.

• 18 lbs. of carbon, 2” carbon bed
• Medical-grade HEPA
• UV light
• The AirMedic+ series features 360-degree air intake, which provides enhanced surface area contact, thus improved mold spore filtration

2.     NO: If a mold problem is present in a home or office, the source of the mold growth must be removed. An air purifier that combines a HEPA filtration system, a UV light and a deep bed of activated carbon can work to remove the harmful effects of mold, but source removal is essential if the problem is to be resolved permanently.

For more information on air purification solutions for mold, please visit www.allerair.com, or call 888.852.8247 to speak to an Indoor Air Quality Expert.