Facts About Molds

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in buildings and outdoors, especially on surfaces and food. Molds have a fuzzy appearance and can be white, orange, green or black.

Description

• In outdoor environments, mold breaks down dead organic substances. Mold spores travel through the air or move through animals or insects and attach to surfaces, according to an article by Chris Bishop for the American Environmental Health Foundation.

Reproduction and Growth

• Molds often reproduce asexually through spores. They can produce sexually through hyphae, thread-like growths that contain positive and negative strains. To grow and develop, mold needs organic material, such as leaves, plants, food and other materials.

Environments

• Mold needs to be in a moist environment, with a water source, to survive, which is why it often grows in damp areas of a home. Most molds tend to thrive in warm and/or humid places, such as bathrooms, saunas, greenhouses or flower shops, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health Problems

• People with asthma, sinus problems, allergies and/or other respiratory problems may develop worsened conditions because of mold exposure. Some people develop a runny nose, a cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, eye irritation and/or a rash as a result of mold exposure.

Prevention and Control

• There is no way to completely get rid of mold and/or mold spores. You can keep mold from growing and/or further developing by using water and detergent or bleach to clean mold growth on surfaces; keeping the relative humidity in your home below 60 percent; running a fan or air conditioner and/or opening doors and windows and fixing leaky faucets or pipes.