1. by J. H. Haines New York State Museum Biological Survey Albany, NY
WHAT DOES MOLD MEAN? by
J. H. Haines
New York State
Museum Biological Survey
Albany, NY

2. Black killer mold eats husband’s brain, poisons crystal chandelier, woman given $32,200,000

3. Mold is…
-On your cheese -On your leather boots -In your shower -In your school Is it a $32,000,000 problem?

4. WHAT IS A MOLD? WHAT IS A FUNGUS?
Molds (=Mildew) are a simple kind of fungus
Fungi are a kingdom separate from plants, animals, and bacteria
Fungi have beneficial role in nature

5. This is where fungi live.
Wood rot fungi

6. FUNGI ARE GOOD Fungi recycle nutrients Fungi clean forest of debris
Some fungi are symbiotic with plants
Even disease fungi strengthen gene pool of host

7. The mycelium is the “body” of the fungus

8. Mushrooms
Some of the best known fungi are mushrooms

9. Some of them specialize in rotting wood

10. Many fungi are too small to notice
FUNGI ON WOOD

11. Molds are just mycelium and spores

12. Fungus spores are small
Pollen
Spore

13. FUNGUS SPORES ARE EVERYWHERE
10 m

14. THE EARTH IS COVERED WITH SPORES
THE EARTH IS COVERED WITH SPORES. A SPORE HERE AND THERE IS NOT A CRISIS

15. WATER IS THE PROBLEM, MOLD IS THE SYMPTOM

16. JUST ADD WATER AND THEY WILL GROW

17. Mold is a problem when… -It produces toxins -It is pathogenic -It is just too numerous

18. Paper is a favorite food of fungi

19. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THERE IS MOLD IN YOUR BUILDING?
You can see it as dark patches or minute fuzz
You can smell it as a “musty” odor
Air in the space feels damp

20. FIX THE MOISTURE PROBLEM FIRST, THEN CLEAN UP THE MOLD

21. YOU DON’T HAVE TO KILL MOLD. IT IS A TOXIC PARTICLE, NOT A DISEASE

22. WHEN DO YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP?
Mold won’t fit under dinner plate
Mold is widespread
You sense mold but can’t find it
There is potential for conflict

23. WHAT IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM?
Mold in your refrigerator
Mold on your window sill
Mold in your shower
Mold on a removable item
(A cardboard box in the basement)
Dust that looks like mold

24. THIS IS A PROBLEM

25. WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN PROBLEMS?
Mold
Inside of walls
In air handling ducts
In crawl spaces

26. The simple technique for identifying mold

27. Ulocladium, The tape sample

28. A tool to sample air

29. SPORES IN AN AIR SAMPLE

30. AIR SAMPLE: VIABLE-TYPE
Air is drawn in, particles impact agar
Only spores that grow in agar plates will show up
Culture is most sure method of identifying some molds

32. MOLDS AND HEALTH Allergens: Often found in buildings
Pathogens: Rarely found in buildings (Histoplasma & Cryptococcus)
Toxin producers: Often found in buildings (Aspergillus versicolor, Trichoderma viride, Stachybotrys chartarum)

33. Black killer mold. Stachybotrys

34. STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARUM

35. Stachybotrys chartarum
One of the most common molds with potentially life-threatening toxins
Spores may contain toxin
Complaints are headache, loss of energy, respiratory, and sinus problems

36. Stachy: How bad is it?
In about one in “normal” 50 houses (According to one study)
Can travel in spores and dust from substrate
Cannot form gas
Cannot normally be found in blood
Cannot grow in human body
Does not have to be live to be toxic

37. Cladosporium sphaerospermum

38. Aspergillus
Aspergillus

39. Penicillium

40. Alternaria

41. REMEDIATION Prevent airborne spores and dust
Replace porous surface materials that have obvious mold growth (e.g., wallboard, ceiling tiles, cloth)
Clean hard surfaces. Repaint if appropriate
Take air and surface samples before and after
Follow New York City Health guidelines

42. SUMMARY Mold spores are everywhere
Water is the problem. Mold is the symptom
You don’t have to spray it
If there is mold, just clean it up
Fear of mold can be larger problem than mold itself. Education is the cure