On this page the reader can find basic information about toxic black mold, other types of toxic and allergenic mold,
fungi, and mold spores.
Toxic Mold and
Allergenic Mold: Basic Information
Located in Birmingham and serving Southeast
Michigan
Telephone: 248 321 4437
Mold can be found everywhere just like bacteria and viruses. Mold
appears in
a wide variety of colors from dark black to white and all colors in between;
identification of mold species by color only is not possible.
Mold can also be mistaken with other material deposits, laboratory confirmation
is needed in all suspected cases.
Fungi, Mold, and Mold Spores
Biologically, fungi are a kingdom that comprises yeast, mold,
mushrooms, and puffballs. People commonly refer to yeast as fungi.
Yeast are single cells that live independently of each other,
they do not form colonies. In case of yeast infestation, of wood
for example, we do not see anything but wood deterioration; this
is commonly known as wood rot.
As opposed to yeast, mold cells live in colonies, they build a
structure named mycelia. In the mycelia mold cells live together,
nourish, and produce spores. This whole assembly forms a mold
colony that could be visible with the naked eye.
Mold spores are produced by mold cells for reproduction. Mold spores
are moved by air
currents or other vectors to new locations where they form new
colonies.
Spores can survive for years without feeding. When good conditions are found
they transform into active mold cells and grow a new colony.
Yeast cells also produce spores, but they do not form a mycelia.
Mold Survival Conditions and Feeding
Mold survival depends on moisture, temperature, oxygen, and an adequate food substrate
such as cellulose (wood fiber) or other organic molecules containing sugars.
They thrive on moist wood in the summer and will turn dormant in a cold attic during the winter.
Mold does not have the natural ability to break the wood fiber, the pre-existing rot fungus
is a condition for mold survival on natural wood. Construction materials such as paper,
particle board, and fiberboard, do not require the presence of wood rot fungus for mold
to feed on, because man has altered the wood fiber. As soon as these materials become
moist they grow mold. Mold can also feed on latex based paint and several other
construction materials containing organic substrates.
Health Problems Caused by Mold
Health problems caused by mold are of a wide variety and not completely understood.
Many of theses diseases are well known to doctors, mostly occupational medicine specialists.
They are easy to diagnose when the individual is exposed to large quantities of mold
and for a long period of time. However, the difficulty comes when individuals relate
a lesser or sporadic exposure, or do not even know they have been exposed.
In these cases symptoms are nonspecific, especially in the beginning stages,
and it is hard to establish connection to a cause or even find the cause.
Interestingly enough, if environmental studies are conducted either at home or work,
mold is most often found, and after the mold is removed, symptoms vanish.
A basic overview on the health problems caused by mold can be found on the
Mold Disease page of this website.
