What is mold?

by mold consultant Phillip Fry, who does mold inspection and mold remediation worldwide

Mold refers to over 100,000 species of fungi that grow in filaments and reproduce by forming minuscule spores (like seeds for plants) that are not visible to the naked eye, and that are carried and distributed to new growth areas in outdoor and indoor air currents.  

Mold spores need moisture such as high humidity or a roof or plumbing leak plus organic food matter to eat (such as wood, drywall, carpeting, paper, dust, and lint indoors, or decaying matter outdoors such as fallen leaves and tree branches) to grow into visible mold colonies. Mold growth destroys the surfaces and objects that it eats in its growth.

 
Mold spores are can survive without water for thousands of years, if necessary. Being frozen does not kill the mold spores.

"Mildew" refers to mold (often with a white or grayish color) or growing in or on bathroom showers and walls.

Some of most frequent indoor molds are Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Alternaria.

The deadly “black toxic molds” Stachybotrys chartarum and Stachybotrys atra are greenish-black molds that can also be found indoors in building materials that are continually wet such as from an ongoing plumbing leak. Also known as “Stachy”, these molds, when growing, have a wet, glistening appearance.

Indoor mold has the potential to cause serious health problems.  Learn about available mold medical diagnostic and treatment procedures in
the in depth mold ebook Mold Health Guide, available from Mold Mart. 

Learn how to use mold test kits, how to kill mold with an ozone generator, and how to do your own mold removal and mold remediation.

For in depth information about mold, please visit these websites:

Mold Consultant:  http://www.moldexpertconsultants.com
Mold Species:      http://www.mold.ph
Mold Prevention:  http://www.moldprevention.com
Mold Removal:    http://www.moldinspector.com/mold_removal.htm
Mold Inspector:   http://www.moldinspector.com
Mold Inspector Directory:  http://www.certifiedmoldinspectors.com
Mold Inspector Training:   http://www.ecology-college.com
Mold Test Kits:   http://www.envirodetectives.com/mold_test_kits.htm
Flooding Mold:   http://www.floodmold.com
Fire Mold:           http://www.firewindmold.com
Indoor Pollution:  http://www.indoorpollution.com  
Ozone Generator:  http://www.envirodetectives.com/ozone_blasting.htm
Company Mold:   http://www.companymold.com
Business Mold:   http://www.businessmold.com