Fungi and Ventilation
At Dawson’s Australia we understand keeping your family and employees healthy is a top priority. Melbourne’s cool and wet winters with hot summers creates an ideal environment for Fungi and Fungi spores to spread throughout your home or business. This can become a serious health issue if left untreated.
Fungi spores are an irritant to the human respiratory system. Some fungi species pose more serious health risks than others, but in general the effects of exposure can include lung, skin and eye irritation. The severity of a person’s reaction to fungi is a combination of different factors including, the concentration of spores in the air, the length of exposure, and the person’s level of sensitivity to fungal allergens.
Fungi allergy causes the same signs and symptoms that occur in other types of upper respiratory allergies. Allergy symptoms can include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Cough
- Itchy eyes, nose and throat
- Watery eyes
- Respiratory or breathing issues
- Headaches
- Nervousness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Fungi allergy symptoms vary from person to person and range from mild to severe. You may have year-round symptoms or symptoms that flare up only during certain times of the year. If you have a fungi allergy and asthma, your asthma symptoms may be triggered by exposure to fungi spores. In some people, exposure to certain fungi can cause a severe asthma attack.
Fungi reproduce through spores which are released into the air to germinate and expand. Factors that determine the rate of this growth include the amount of moisture, temperature and humidity of the air.
Poor sub-floor ventilation or air circulation under your home or office creates moisture and humidity which not only promotes growth of fungi, but also provides an ideal environment and conducive conditions for timber pest activity such as Termites and Borers.
High moisture levels in a humid subfloor area can also cause structural timbers and flooring to become bouncy, warp and also creates wood rot.
The aim of improving subfloor ventilation is to replace highly humid, and possibly odorous, sub floor air with less humid and clean external air. The drier external air cross flowing through the subfloor helps to absorb moisture from the soil as it contacts the surface.
Dawson’s Australia can provide a wide range of solutions helping to protect your family and your home.
