The Different Types of Mold

What is mold? Mold belongs to a group of microscopic fungi. It grows, lives and reproduces in damp conditions with low light, providing there is a food source to sustain it.

Mold is everywhere. An excess amount of indoor mold will produce a distinctive odor or smell. This smell comes from several sources. The first is the smell of the mold living and dying. As mold grows, it gives off certain gases. Dead mold gives off different gases. All of these have distinct odors to them. In addition, as mold lives and grows on wood, it causes the wood to rot. The rotting wood also has its own unique smell. These are those musty odors we associate with mold.

There are over 100, 000 known mold species. Some of these molds are harmful to humans. It is important to control all types of mold growth indoors. Mold spores cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are so small in fact, that with a single breath, a human can inhale up to 800,000 of these spores. This is why mold is such a hazard to people. Mold can grow in hidden places indoors. Building residents often become sick without knowing that a mold problem even exists.

Out of all of the mold species in the world, only a few are common to the indoor environment. The most common indoor molds are of the Cladosporium, Aspergillus niger, Mucor and Stachybotrys strains. Stachybotrys is a mold strain that is considered toxic to humans. There is another less common mold also toxic to humans called Memnoniella. Both of these mold strains grow on damp cellulose. Wood, paper, clothing, and upholstery, are all suitable hosts for these strains of mold to thrive on. When active, these molds appear black with white edges, and may have a slimy look to them. This type of mold needs to be removed immediately. It is thought that upwards of 50% of all homes have some form of toxic mold infestation.

Although mold can be destructive and cause health problems, some mold strains are actually beneficial to mankind. Cheeses like blue cheese get their distinct flavor and coloring from mold. Penicillin and other antibiotics have changed the course of medicine for the better, removing the possibility of death from simple bacterial infections. The red mold we see growing on bread is currently being used in the study of genetics.

A homeowner that suspects a toxic mold problem should call in a professional to perform the cleanup and removal of the mold problem. The house should be cleared of all mold prior to allowing any residents to return to the home. This type of mold can make a person very sick if he or she inhales it or if it comes in contact with the skin.

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