THE HEALTH HAZARD OF DAMPNESS AND MOULD GROWTH.
Breathing in polluted air is undoubtedly a health
hazard on a par with drinking polluted water, yet that is exactly what
people living in damp affected properties are doing every day of their
lives.
Any dwelling affected by dampness, condensation and
mould growth is a potential health hazard as the internal air supply will
inevitably contain known allergens such as the hundreds of different mould
spores, it will contain Bacteria, Viruses and a variety of household
pollutants such as dust, smoke, cooking grease, towel lint etc.
The air may contain gasses given off by decomposing
organic matter, it may contain Carbon Monoxide or Nitrogen Dioxide, it may
contain a cocktail of hundreds of potentially toxic vapours given off by
paints and solvents, plastics, furnishings, dry-cleaned clothes, hair
sprays and deodorants. Above all it will contain excessive humidity levels
that trigger an increase in Dust Mite activity, which in turn aggravates
Asthma sufferers of whom children and the aged are the most vulnerable.
We can live for 70 days without food. We can live for
seven days without water. We can’t live longer than seven minutes
without air and it follows therefore, that breathing in this toxic time
bomb day after day will damage the health of the occupants.
We breathe in approximately 500 million times during an
average lifetime, we breathe in 20,000 pints of air a day, each pint
containing the precious oxygen needed by every cell in our body and it is
vital that we have continuous supplies of high quality fresh air.
When we inhale heavy polluted air, we restrict our
oxygen intake, which creates an imbalance in the blood, which in turn
begins to affect the immune system, the central nervous system and the
vital organs, i.e. oxygen starvation is known to cause brain damage.
These consequential effects of polluted air are
particularly dangerous in the case of new born children who have immature
immune systems.
The stresses and strains of living in such conditions,
of seeing the health of your loved ones in jeopardy, takes its toll, and,
even though you may suffer in silence, it undoubtedly causes a great deal
of distress, worry, anxiety, mental fatigue, depression, high blood
pressure, call it what you will, any or all of it can lead to a breakdown
of mental or physical health.
There is a duty of care, incumbent upon Central
Government, upon every Westminster or Local Government Politician, upon
every Local Authority Housing Director, Environmental Health Officer,
Architect, Surveyor or Technical Officer, upon every Landlord and Managing
Agent, to ensure that people do not have to live in damp polluted homes.
The main responsibility rests with every Environmental
Health Officer, because they have the power to ensure that any property
affected by dampness, condensation and mould growth is declared unfit for
habitation. Indeed under the Environmental Protection Act, on the grounds
of Statutory Nuisance, and under the fitness guidelines of other current
Housing Acts, he has an absolute duty of care to do so.
Your local Environmental Health Officer can also
arrange for grant monies to be made available to pay for the Specialist
Equipment, Products and Services that will make them fit again.
There is no longer any reason why anyone should have to
live in a toxic cloud when all that is required is adequate continuous air
changes.
Kiltox Damp Free Solutions can provide all your
requirements.
Call the Nationwide Damp and Indoor Air Quality
Advisory Line on 020 8858 6277 for further information.
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