Fungi look wonderful artistic feathery things when growing on a petri dish or under the microscope. Bacteria don’t usually look so impressive.

Some fungi and bacteria that love damp places, can cause cause serious health problems in some susceptible individuals.

The European branch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently produced a comprehensive document:

WHO GUIDELINES FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY : DAMPNESS AND MOULD

COUNTRIES : EUROPE

Microbial pollution is a key element of indoor air pollution. It is caused by hundreds of species of bacteria and fungi, in particular filamentous fungi (mould), growing indoors when sufficient moisture is available. This document provides a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence on health problems associated with building moisture and biological agents. The review concludes that the most important effects are increased prevalences of respiratory symptoms, allergies and asthma as well as perturbation of the immunological system. The document also summarizes the available information on the conditions that determine the presence of mould and measures to control their growth indoors. WHO guidelines for protecting public health are formulated on the basis of the review. The most important means for avoiding adverse health effects is the prevention (or minimization) of persistent dampness and microbial growth on interior surfaces and in building structures.”

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