Mold and Your Home
By David Beard
editor@ontheinsideonline.com

There was a time when most people only thought about mold when they saw it growing in a long-forgotten jar at the back of the refrigerator. Today, people have more immediate concerns about mold. It is now the age of worrying about mold growing in our walls and under our floors. We aren’t simply concerned with the clean up and appearance but also the possible danger it presents. People are interested in how and where mold grows. They want to know how mold will affect them physically and ways to prevent the growth of mold. Homeowners are also concerned with its affect on the value of their home. These are the thoughts that will be addressed here in this article.

Molds belong to the group of fungi that includes mushrooms, mildews and yeasts.  Although they are living organisms, they are distinctly different from animals and plants.  They are similar to plants because they have cell walls, but unlike plants they are not able to produce their own nutrients in the way that plants do through photosynthesis.  Molds secrete enzymes which allow them to digest the organic material they are attached to.  More than 100,000 various species of fungi exists while only a handful are found in homes.  Molds can grow on any organic material such as wood, paper, carpet and foods.  There isn’t any practical way to eliminate all molds in the indoor environment because they spread and reproduce by making spores.  Mold spores are extremely light and travel through the air with the ability to resist adverse conditions and survive for extended periods of time. 

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Some molds are capable of producing toxins which are called mycotoxins.  This type of mold is often referred to as Black Mold.  Even though it is commonly black, it can be other colors depending on its source of food.  Many kinds of molds can appear black, so even if you find black-colored mold it doesn’t mean that you have mold that is toxic.  Even molds that are known to produce toxins often do not.  The toxicity of molds varies greatly and affects individuals differently.  If a person is allergic to penicillin, the penicillium mold is likely to cause some allergic reaction in that person.  If you are not allergic to the penicillin vaccine then it is unlikely to affect you.  Black Molds, stachybotrys, is thought to be deadly but this has only occurred in some infants and people with immune system impairment.  Even people who are susceptible to mycotoxins are more likely to suffer from headaches, fevers, diarrhea, watery eyes, fatigue and skin irritations.  These conditions are not pleasant but they are better than the alternative.

Now that we have discussed what mold is and why it has become an issue, we will take a look at sources of molds and how to prevent it.  Basically, two requirements are needed for mold to grow and live.  Since molds are living organisms, it requires a food source and moisture.  Mold can feed on many types of building materials including carpet, glue, wallpaper, drywall, ceiling tile, cardboard, insulation and, of course, wood.  Molds get their color from its food; therefore, Black Mold is not always black and mold which is colored black is not necessarily toxic.  Even more important for molds to grow is moisture.  Moisture is all around us, especially in south Florida, but it is more controllable than the food source.