As a student, when you move away from home into student accommodation, you may find yourself facing some new challenges. Is your new space clean and healthy? Does it smell musty or “old” at times?
This is an indication of mould.
The term “mould” describes several types of fungi that grow in damp areas, and unfortunately, they’re not always easy to spot. However, it’s worth knowing a little more about these invisible enemies and how they can affect your health.
What Is Mould Exactly?
Mould is a fungus that grows in moist environments. It can be found in soil, water and on plants and tends to grow best in warm and damp areas. Moulds are microscopic organisms that live everywhere—in the soil outside our homes, on the leaves of plants and even within the walls of our homes. They play an important role in nature by breaking down dead organic matter into nutrients.
While they’re an important part of our environment, they’re not particularly welcome in our student rooms.
How Does Exposure to Mold and Mildew Affect Your Health?
Exposure to mould and mildew can cause a variety of health problems. The most common symptoms include:
- respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath (from breathing in the spores);
- allergic reactions;
- skin irritation;
- asthma attacks (especially in people who already have asthma);
- fevers; and
- nausea or vomiting
Long-term exposure to mould can wreak havoc on our systems!
How Can You Reduce Your Exposure to Mould?
To reduce your exposure to mould, try to keep the humidity in your home below 50 percent. This can be accomplished with a dehumidifier, which is an appliance that removes excess moisture from the air by creating a dry environment. Alternatively, be sure to allow in fresh air from outside and let it flood your kitchen and bathroom areas.
If you have severe mould problems in your student room that cannot be addressed by simply cleaning them up, call a professional for assistance with removing it, or chat with your landlord. If left untreated for even longer periods of time, extensive mould growth can cause permanent damage to your body and make you sicker over time.
As you can see, mould and mildew can seriously threaten our health. If you think you might be suffering from an illness related to exposure, you must seek medical attention immediately. And in the meantime, chat with the maintenance crew that is responsible for the safety and care of your student rooms and ensure that they treat any affected areas.