12/23/2020
Got an air purifier on your mind for Christmas?
Why Christmas Can Lower Indoor Air Quality
Holidays are a time of tradition for many people. Decorations, sometimes decades old, are brought down from attics, carried up from basements, drug out of crawlspaces, and pulled out of garages or storage units. Often, when people open these storage boxes and bins of decorations from Christmases past, they are slapped in the face with unpleasant musty odors. Nevertheless, the holiday décor is distributed throughout the house, spreading holiday cheer and moldy smell to all!
It’s a ritual that takes place year after year that needlessly exposes people to mold and the chemical compounds released when mold is actively growing. Even if you can’t visually see mold on the decorations, if you smell a musty odor, active mold growth is present; the musty smell is microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) that get released during the mold’s active growth phase. Other microbials, such as bacteria and viruses, can also form on decorations because environments conducive to mold growth are also ones in which other microbes thrive.
Why does this happen? Why do stored items fall prey to mold growth? It is because eleven months out of the year, these holiday treasures are stored in spaces generally not heated or cooled. No matter how carefully holiday lights, trinkets, and baubles are packed away for their several months-long “hibernation”, humidity in the air will cause moisture to absorb into the items, creating the perfect environment for mold to grow.
It takes three things for mold to grow:
1) Mold spores that are a natural part of the ambient air. It only takes a few to proliferate and contaminate an entire box or bin of decorations.
2) A food source that can be fabric, paper, glue, or other organic materials often used in Christmas decorations.
3) Sufficient moisture that can come from humidity above 50 percent.
Other sources of contaminants can lower indoor air quality during the holidays.
• Mold and other microbes can naturally exist on live Christmas trees
• Allergens can emit from holiday plants, such as poinsettias
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can off-gas from artificial trees, new holiday decorations, wrapping paper, and even gifts.
To freshen up holiday decorations that have become musty, you can place them in a closed room with an Ozonator or “tent” them under a piece of plastic or blanket with an ozone machine, which can help reduce the musty odors. This same method can also be used to help reduce the off-gassing from new Christmas decorations, paper, and wood products. It is not a guaranteed way to “save” musty items, particularly if contamination levels are high. Still, it is a potential option to try, especially with items of sentimental value that cannot be replaced. Please note, since sensitivity to ozone levels can vary by person, it is best to ozone items in an area away from people.
The items we bring into our homes and workplaces any time of year can make a significant difference in the quality of air we breathe. During the holidays, it is especially important to be aware of our choices and how they can impact our indoor air quality, so our focus can remain on enjoying the holidays.
For assistance with indoor air quality issues, contact a trained and certified professional. To locate one in your area, please visit www.NORMIpro.com .
