old and mold spores adversely affect indoor air quality (IAQ). Health conscious people or those suffering from the presence of mold in their homes need a certain level of knowledge and a lot of effort to clean and keep their environment healthy. Different types of mold - black mold, toxic mold, allergenic mold - are present all the time around us and in the air we breathe. In low levels, molds and mold spores are generally harmless but if their levels increase they can affect people; especially people with allergies, asthma and respiratory conditions or suppressed immune system.
Germicidal UV light (UVC) has been successfully utilized in hospitals and public buildings to inhibit microbial growth, spreading of infections and to increase the indoor air quality. UVC can also help against mold problems by rendering airborne mold particles and mold spores non-viable and even sterilizing surface mold colonies if they are directly irradiated with germicidal UV (UVC) light. Even the dead mold spores and mold particles can be allergenic or toxic so it is strongly recommended to always use germicidal UV light in conjunction with a good filtration system.
Before going into details of how UVC can be used against mold and for mold remediation let's see what mold is, how it grows and multiplies and the hazards it presents to human health. Links to mold, toxic black mold, indoor air quality and health resources are published at the bottom of the page.
The following article by Randy Penn offers an explanation on mold and how the mold by-products affect indoor air and our health.
Randy Penn is an independent consultant for indoor air quality issues. He is a Certified Indoor Environmentalist (IAQA), has a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, and is a licensed professional real estate inspector. Randy has invested hundreds of hours in the study of microbial organisms, conducted numerous commercial and residential investigations, completed workshops on mold remediation, and has provided training programs for air quality issues. He is a member of the Indoor Air Quality Association and the American Indoor Air Quality Council.
Mold: Volatile Organic Compounds & Mycotoxins : A Primer for Homeowners