There are a variety of biological organisms and bioaerosols present in the homes. Mold constitutes a class of microscopic fungi and is just one of these types of microbes that infect households. Mold can thrive in certain indoor conditions conducive to growth, sufficient water or moisture and a source of nutrients will be a perfect breeding place for mold. Mold is omnipresent in nature, however, excessive mold in the indoors result in offensive odors from the organic compounds released by them during growth and death cycles and destruction of building parts caused by rot.

More than a hundred thousand species of mold have been discovered. Some molds are more harmful than others. But all molds must be controlled. Mold is difficult to detect with the naked eye. They are less than four microns in size and are such a hazard that in a single minute human lungs can inhale seven to eight hundred thousand of mold spores. Inhabitants of buildings can be oblivious to mold infections as mold can breed in hidden places such as behind walls and underneath appliances. Occupants often become sick from exposure before a mold problem is even suspected.

Common Household Mold

As mentioned earlier there are over a hundred thousand species of mold of which the most common molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Mucor and Toxic Mold. Of the toxic variety there are two type of black mold that are not very common but never the less are considered very serious health hazards. These molds are the dreaded Stachybotrys and Memnoniella. Toxic mold such as Stachybotrys and Memnoniella require water soaked cellulose such as wood, paper, and cotton products to survive. Such mold may appear slimy with white edges when wet. As many as fifty percent of all homes and buildings may have some level of Stachybotrys infestation and should be taken care of promptly.

Besides being destructive, however, moulds also have many industrial uses, such as in the fermentation of organic acids and cheeses. Camembert and Roquefort cheeses, for example, gain their particular flavors from the enzymes of Penicillium camemberti and Penicillium roqueforti, respectively. Penicillin, a product of the green mould Penicillium notatum, revolutionized antibiotic drugs after its discovery in 1929, and the red bread mould Neurospora is an important tool in genetic experiments.

If someone feels they may be dealing with a toxic mold they should vacate the premises and have a professionals remove the mold before anyone comes back into the house. A person can get quite ill if a large quantity of the fungal dust has been inhaled or if the dust gets on the skin.

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