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Summer/Fall 2008 - Article 5

From The Lab
Mold and Mildew

Molds live in soil, on plants and on dead, decaying matter. Outdoors, molds play a key role in the breakdown of dead wood, leaves and other plant debris. Molds are fungi and, unlike plants, they lack chlorophyll and can only survive by digesting plant matter and other organic materials. Without molds, our environment would be inundated with dead plant matter.

Mildew is produced by mold. It is a living organism that grows with warmth, humidity and nutrients. Mildew can be found on just about any surface. It is thin and normally black, though sometimes white in appearance.

Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as plants produce seeds. Mold spores are constantly moving through the air - both indoors and outdoors. When mold spores find a damp surface indoors, they begin growing and digesting whatever they are on to survive. Paper, wood, carpet, food and many construction materials can support mold growth. The key ingredient to mold growth is excessive moisture. Without moisture, mold cannot take hold.

Common sites for indoor mold growth include restroom and shower tile, basement walls, window wells and areas where water is leaking. Uncontrolled humidity can also lead to mold growth, particularly in humid climates like the South. Building construction techniques (tight sealing, lower air exchange rates) practiced over the past 30 years have also been linked to a rise in mold-related problems.

Many types of molds exist. All have the potential to cause adverse health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Some generate potent toxins that can cause a myriad of health problems, which is why prevention is critical. There is no way to eliminate all molds and mold spores from indoor environments. They are all around us just like bacteria.

Mold that has visibly taken hold indoors should be cleaned up immediately. Quat-based disinfectants, like Neutral Germicidal Cleaner (#702), do work on some fungi, like Trichophyton mentagrophytes (athlete's foot) and Candida albicans. Some are also effective against mildew, like Aspergillus niger. Check our disinfectants’ label copy for a list of fungi. Sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach), however, is the best way to eliminate most mold and mildew.