What are molds?

Molds are simple, microscopic organisms, present virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Molds, along with mushrooms and yeasts, are fungi which are needed to break down material and recycle nutrients in our environment. For molds to grow and reproduce they need only a food source - any organic material, such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt - and moisture. As molds grow by digesting the organic material, they gradually destroy whatever they grow on. Sometimes, new mold grows on old mold colonies. Mold growth on surfaces can often be seen in the form of discoloration: frequently green, gray, brown, or black but also white and other colors. Molds release countless tiny, lightweight spores, which travel throughout the air.



How am I exposed to indoor mold?

Everyone is exposed to mold on a daily basis without evident harm. It is common to find mold spores in the air we breathe in our homes; most of the airborne spores found indoors actually come from outdoor sources. Mold spores primarly cause heath problems when they are present in large numbers and are inhaled.