Lloyd , Our normal environment is never sterile. Molds and bacteria in the outside air come into our houses and buildings and that's normal. The molds that grow on leaves outside become airborne and are in indoor air. A problem arises when there are more molds inside than outside or the species found inside are different from those outside. Mold growth can occur in cooling systems, humidifiers, cold cellars, basements, crawlspaces, closets etc. Molds grow where there is excess moisture. Some species of molds are known to be toxic. They can affect different organs of the body. You may have heard of the black toxic mold, Stachybotrys chartarum, which was implicated in bleeding lung and death of infants. It is found in the soil and likely does no harm, but when it is growing inside houses or buildings, the occupants get sick.
The heat-loving mold, Aspergillus fumigatus, thrives in compost piles. This is an opportunistic and pathogenic mold. Even if there are beneficial organisms in the pile, inhaling this mold can make people sick. The same thing with moldy hay. People who work with them can get farmer's lung disease. I doubt that the presence of beneficial organisms would prevent those exposed from getting sick. Molds are powerful degraders. Without them, there would be no place for us. Unfortunately if they are growing where they are not wanted, our buildings get damaged and health is affected. Virginia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lloyd Charles" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2002 6:02 PM Subject: Re: Spraying in airplanes etc > > Virginia Salares wrote > ----- biggest challenge is keeping the mechanical systems free of molds and > > bacteria. > > While we want microorganisms in the soil, we do not want them where we > live > > and work.-------------------------------WHY > NOT??????????---------------------------- > > Virginia. I think that without microorganisms where we live and work, we > would very quickly perish!!!. The so called sterile environment is a myth > and a fallacy - for living proof of this just check out a list of hospitals > in your immediate area for long running staph infections or similar - > Where our troubles come is when we create conditions that are to the > advantage of the detrimental microbes (usually anaerobic) and the good bugs > that normally keep the numbers in check loose out. ---- typical is the > golden staph in an ALMOST sterilised hospital or E Coli infected meat from > feedlot cattle that only requires a change of diet. > We need to be real careful that we set the example with our language here as > the destruction of beneficial microbes in our air and soils is/ has been the > chemical corporations most successful sales tactic (accidental they would > claim but are those guys that dumb--I dont think) > > All the best Greyhawk > >
