Transport for London (TfL) has revealed the source of a smell at a major Elizabeth line station. A customer reported the pong to the authority, claiming it smelt like ‘mould’.
They described ‘a very strong smell of mould at Liverpool Street Station’. The person also asked officials if it had been investigated, and whether they could confirm what it is.
A TfL case officer replied: “We are looking at mould more widely across the network. Mould growth is normally evident as it manifests itself on damp surfaces and needs a source of water and organic nutrients to grow.
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“We would normally investigate this if a complaint was raised by the station manager. In this case, we believe the smell at Liverpool Street is not connected to mould and is a pump issue.”
When asked if bosses were ‘aware that mould is a public health issue’ by the concerned customer, they added: “Mould is a public health issue in certain circumstances. The most acute effect of mould (aflatoxins etc) is where this grows in food and then it’s consumed.
‘Little purpose in undertaking airborne mould spore sampling’
“In indoor environments mould growths generate spores which are respiratory irritants and can aggravate underlying conditions such as asthma and cause allergic reactions – summer colds are often an allergic response to mould spores rather than a viral condition. However, there are no regulatory exposure limits to mould spores in air.”
The case officer also said: “There is little purpose in undertaking airborne mould spore sampling. The primary focus should be on identifying the cause and rectifying it. In most cases mould problems arise from damp surfaces caused by penetrating or rising damp or condensation which is usually caused by inadequate ventilation and poorly insulated (and cold) building fabrics.
“While airborne odours associated with moulds are disagreeable, they are not toxic from a medical perspective.”
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