Mildew On Plants

Crop mould and mildew on plants can trigger asthma.

First, what is the distinction between mildew and mould?

Mildew is a specific mould, flat, powdery white or grey in appearance. It can be found on an array of plants including beans, maize, potato, tomato and rice crops, causing them damage. Closer to home, mildew is commonly seen on bathroom walls, shower curtains, window sills, in your wardrobe affecting your valuable clothing, shoes and leather.

Mould is a fungus in the form of filaments or hyphae, fuzzy, green, black or blue in appearance and has a musty smell. It can be found anywhere in your home or work place where indoor conditions are damp, dark and quiet such as your wardrobes, rooms, basements, garages, sub-ground rooms, high humidity areas, your office and any place indoors.

Examples of mildew include Peronospora sp, Blumeria and Podosphaera. Some of the common moulds include Acremonium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. Unlike mildew, mould can be used in food such as Penicillium in cheese production.

Yet, there are a few points of similarity between mildew and mould. They prefer warm, moist environments and spread through the air as mould spores.

To prevent mould and mildew in your home, work place or accomodation facilities you need to keep all the areas dry, ventilated and moisture free.

Check bathroom, kitchen and out door pipes for damage and leaks and fix as soon as possible.

Inspect heating, cooling, humidifier/dehumidifier systems and maintain either half yearly or every change of season. Mould removal is imperative to provide welcome relief from symptoms. Dehumidifier hire is available from Mitey Fresh when you need it most.

Prolonged exposure to mildew and mould spores can cause health problems such as respiratory symptoms including: unable to stop coughing, scratchy throat, chest and lung congestion and allergic reactions due to the toxins moulds produce (mycotoxins).

Researchers, lead by Dr Teresa Mitakakis from the Institute of Medicine, found a common mould Alternaria, growing on local crops, aggravate asthma in children living in western NSW. They found the air around Wagga Wagga and Moree region contained Alternaria spores, 10 to 1000 times higher than levels recorded at test sites around the world. Similar levels have also been recorded in Brisbane, Queensland and parts of Canada.

The study was conducted on about 400 school children. It was found that a child’s symptoms of asthma, including wheezing and the use of medication, increased when more Alternaria spores were circulating in the air. The effect was more severe among children known to be sensitive to Alternaria.

A seperate study by Dr Mitakakis found that the level of Alternaria in the air is higher during the harvest of cotton and wheat crops, and when plants are mature. Rainfall and warm temeperatures, which trigger the release of mould spores into the air, also increase Alternaria levels.

The study highlights moulds are an important asthma trigger in inland areas, more common than another major allergen, the house dust mite. Along coastal areas, allergies to house dust mites provoke more asthma and allergic reactions.

Improve indoor air quality standards with Mitey Fresh dehumidifiers for sale Australia wide. Further mould and allergy relief, stop and prevent mould in cupboards and wardrobes with Dampp Chaser storage dehumidifiers and natural damp rid products such as Zeolite Australia wide for the benefit to you and your family.

The range of stop mould products reduce dampness quickly and are a crucial part of how to prevent mould from becoming a major problem in the home. Addressing mildew on plants requires agricultural intervention. Keep indoors and when going outside, consider wearing a mask to prevent spore inhalation.

Click here to see our range of stop mould products.