A Mold Is A Water–Loving Fungi
A mold is a type of fungi. It is composed of filament–like cells called hyphae, which in turn form the main body or mycelium. Scientists estimate that there are tens of thousands of different kinds of molds, which grow on plant, animal, or wet inorganic matter. Molds reproduce by means of microscopic particles or spores that travel through the air or cling to surfaces.
Indoors, molds thrive in warm, moist, conditions such as those found in bathrooms, under leaky kitchen pipes, or in damp roof materials above ceiling tiles. All indoor molds should be treated with caution because of potential health risks, according to the Center for Disease Control. However, some molds have been more closely associated with specific health problems. One example is Stachybotrys atra.
Stachybotrys atra or Stachybotrys chartarum is a greenish–black mold often referred to as “toxic mold.” It grows on material with a high cellulose content (e.g. fiberboard, paper, dust). Stachybotrys atra becomes a problem when it exudes mycotoxins, which are organic compounds capable of producing toxic responses in humans and animals. Many Aspergillus species of molds also produce mycotoxins.
Some molds release volatile compounds into the air, producing an unpleasant odor. Scientists label these compounds “microbial volatile organic compounds” or “mVOCs” (Moisture Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, Environmental Protection Agency, March 2001). Exposure to mVOCs has been associated with headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. For more information about the effects of molds on health, see Are Molds Dangerous to My Health?.