Mold Facts
April 12, 2011
Fungi are neither plant nor animal. There are more than 100,000 types of molds. Mold colonies can be fluffy, woolly, velvety or…
Mold Facts
- Fungi are neither plant nor animal.
- There are more than 100,000 types of molds.
- Mold colonies can be fluffy, woolly, velvety or powdery.
- Mold comes in a wide variety of colors including white, tan, yellow, brown, black, green, blue, and pink.
- All molds are allergenic.
- 300 molds can cause illness in humans.
- Approximately 50 molds are extremely toxic.
- 12 species are responsible for about 90% of all mold related illnesses.
- Mold can germinate in as little as 4 to 12 hours of moisture (humidity) exposure.
- Colonization can begin within 24 to 48 hours.
- Molds can spread by producing spores and by division.
- According to the EPA all molds have the potential to cause health effects.
- Dead mold can be allergenic and/or toxic and must be removed from the indoor environment.
- Viable spores can remain dormant for more than 20 years until a suitable environment allows them to grow.
- Illness can occur through inhalation, ingestion and/or physical contact with skin.
- The cellular structure of fungi is essentially the same as that found in mammals. Fungal infections can be very difficult to treat because the treatment can be harmful to human cells.