Late in the year – around Christmas-time – doctors and other medical professionals notice a spike in respiratory illnesses. So-called Christmas tree syndrome can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Coughing and wheezing
- Itchy nose and eyes
- Fatigue
- Problems sleeping
At the root of these problems is mold. Trees, particularly evergreens, naturally house mold as they grow outside. According to a new study at SUNY Upstate Medical University, mold is common in conifers.
The problem is compounded when you bring the tree indoors, where warm, humid conditions cause the mold to multiply. In fact, the researchers found that after a tree was put on display indoors for two weeks, the number of airborne mold spores leaped from 800 per 35 cubic feet to 5,000. As you breathe in the spores, they cause physical symptoms – just as it would if the mold was in your walls or around your windows.
Even if you don’t think of yourself as allergy-prone, sensitivities can flare up at any time and you don’t have to be allergic to mold to feel its effects.
Here are some tips on how to minimize Christmas Tree Syndrome:
- Wash the tree and let it dry before bringing it indoors (you can also spray it with a mold-resistant sealant)
- Get rid of it quickly after Christmas – the longer it lingers, the more mold it brings in
- Use an air purifier in the room where the tree is standing
- Go artificial
But – even if you use an artificial tree, you’ll still need to take care of allergy issues… like dust.
Mold in Your Home
A persistent musty odour may be your only outward sign of mold infestation. It can begin to infest your home from even a pinhole sized leak in plumbing or a loose shingle on the roof and begin to grow inside walls and floors where you’ll never see it. Once it’s established, mold spores can enter your HVAC system and disseminate throughout your home.
We Can Help
Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and Global news, official supplier to HGTV’s Income Properties with Scott McGillivray and Leave It To Bryan and recommended by local contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.