What is Mold...and Where does it Grow?

What is mold?

Molds are microscopic fungi, related to mushrooms, yeast, and mildew—and they can be found everywhere. Fungi use enzymes to digest food and reproductive cells called spores to reproduce. Molds play a vital part in the decomposition of leaves, wood, and other dead plant matter. Mold is used in the making of bleu cheese, and mold is the start-up source of penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used naturally-occurring antibiotics. Unfortunately, mold is also one of the most common allergens on earth.

Where does mold grow?

Mold spores need moisture to grow. Molds can grow on wood, ceilings, wallpaper, paint, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation, and these fungi use their powerful enzymes to dissolve home materials just like they dissolve decaying plant matter. An area with high humidity sets the onset for extreme mold growth and thereby poses a risk to your health. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, and crawlspaces are notorious for mold growth. If any part of your home has experienced water damage, then you'll certainly will find mold there. The EPA estimates that one-third to one-half of all U.S. buildings have environments damp enough for the growing of mold. Although indoor humidity is normally lower in the winter time, indoor mold allergy may be more dominant during the winter in some homes due to tight, energy-efficient seals. Molds grow everywhere outdoors as well, and depending on their location, many people suffer from seasonal mold allergies.