Are mould and toxins in your home making you ill? Expert tips to reduce health risks
Mould thrives in humid climates, and certain furniture can introduce particles that can cause coughs and even cancer. Here’s how to stay safe
When Hong Kong artist Erin Hung bought her “dream home” five years ago – a walk-up with a rooftop surrounded by trees and mountains in the city’s Pok Fu Lam neighbourhood – she did not expect it would affect her health.
“In the first year, the mould started kicking in across the whole house,” she recalls. “Sometimes the walls would drip with moisture.”
“As an artist, it is sometimes unavoidable to use chemicals in my work, so it is important that my home is free of chemicals and close to nature,” she says, referring to the synthetic toxins found in typical house paints.
At first, she turned to ventilation and heat treatment, using moisture-absorbing silica gel packets, and heating rods that gently raise the temperature. She put dehumidifiers in each room.