The healthiness of indoor environments depends not only on air quality or the absence of harmful substances, but also on the balance of the environmental microbiota: the community of microorganisms that inhabits the walls, surfaces and air of every building. The TecnoCanapa Bioedilizia® System addresses this issue by integrating probiotic additives into its hemp-lime biocomposites.
What makes an indoor environment healthy?
Indoor environmental health refers to the set of conditions that make an enclosed space favourable to the health of its occupants: balanced relative humidity, absence of mould and harmful compounds, and good air quality. Sick Building Syndrome, recognised by the World Health Organization in 1994, associates unhealthy environmental conditions with symptoms such as headaches, asthma and breathing difficulties, particularly in children.
Microbiota and microbiome: the invisible protagonists of the built environment
Every environment, from a single room to an entire building, has its own microbiota: the total population of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi and yeasts that colonise it. When this balance is disrupted, some potentially pathogenic microorganisms can become dominant, such as Aspergillus, responsible for much household mould and particularly able to proliferate at high relative humidity and temperatures below 15°C. Completely sterilising an environment, for example using lime alone or chemical disinfectants, does not solve the underlying problem: it removes pathogens but leaves a vacant ecological space that is rapidly recolonised, often by more resistant strains.
Why the TecnoCanapa Bioedilizia® System integrates probiotic additives
Air lime, because of its alkaline pH, naturally has anti-mould and antibacterial properties. In the TecnoCanapa Bioedilizia® System, this action is complemented by the Probiotic Additive: a blend of non-pathogenic microorganisms which, when introduced during the biocomposite drying phase, helps occupy the wall’s microbiological space in a balanced way, reducing conditions favourable to recontamination by pathogens. The same principle underlies the use of probiotics for sanitising operating theatres in healthcare settings, the subject of a multicentre study coordinated by the University of Ferrara and published in Plos One, which documented a significant reduction in the environmental pathogenic microbial load.
The System combines this action with the hygroscopic and breathable properties of hemp-lime biocomposites. By reducing condensation and improving wall surface temperatures, it also reduces the environmental conditions that encourage mould growth. The Probiotic Additive is designed for use with Malta Pronta and with other products in the Biomattone® range. The role of the individual microorganisms is explored in the dedicated page on the microorganisms in the Probiotic Additive.
A research topic, not only a product issue
The relationship between natural materials, environmental microbiota and indoor comfort is a subject that our Technical Manager, Gilberto Barcella, has also explored in publications outside the project, including technical articles on Ingenio and the book “Canapa e Calce. Tra tradizione e innovazione dalla bioedilizia alla neoedilizia” (Flaccovio Editore, 2021). Those wishing to explore the scientific research on environmental probiotics in greater depth can refer to these materials.
Frequently asked questions about probiotics and healthy indoor environments
Do probiotic additives replace indoor ventilation?
No. They act on the microbiological balance of surfaces, but air exchange remains essential for managing humidity and indoor air quality.
Is lime alone not enough to prevent mould?
Lime greatly reduces microbial load because of its alkaline pH, but on its own it can leave a space that residual pathogens can rapidly recolonise. Adding probiotics helps maintain balance over time.
Where is the Probiotic Additive used in the TecnoCanapa Bioedilizia® System?
Mainly in combination with Malta Pronta and other biocomposites in the range, during installation and drying.
For complete technical information on materials in the TecnoCanapa Bioedilizia® System, consult the technical data sheets available on the website, or contact us for a specific assessment.
