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

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

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

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

5. 5 Wood rot fungi This is where fungi live.

6. 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. 7 The mycelium is the “body” of the fungus

8. 8 Mushrooms Some of the best known fungi are mushrooms

9. 9 Some of them specialize in rotting wood

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

11. 11 MOLD Molds are just mycelium and spores

12. 12 SporeSpore PollenPollen 8  m 80  m Fungus spores are small

13. 13 10  m FUNGUS SPORES ARE EVERYWHERE

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

15. 15 WATER IS THE PROBLEM, MOLD IS THE SYMPTOM

16. 16 JUST ADD WATER AND THEY WILL GROW JUST ADD WATER AND THEY WILL GROW

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

18. 18 Paper is a favorite food of fungi

19. 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. 20 FIX THE MOISTURE PROBLEM FIRST, THEN CLEAN UP THE MOLD

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

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

23. 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. 24 THIS IS A PROBLEM

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

26. 26 The simple technique for identifying mold

27. 27 Ulocladium, The tape sample

28. 28 A tool to sample air

29. 29 SPORES IN AN AIR SAMPLE

30. 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

31. 31

32. 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. 33 Black killer mold. Stachybotrys

34. 34 STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARUM

35. 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. 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. 37 Cladosporium sphaerospermum

38. 38 Aspergillus

39. 39 Penicillium

40. 40 AlternariaAlternaria

41. 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. 42SUMMARY Mold spores are everywhere Mold spores are everywhere Water is the problem. Mold is the symptom Water is the problem. Mold is the symptom You don’t have to spray it You don’t have to spray it If there is mold, just clean it up If there is mold, just clean it up Fear of mold can be larger problem than mold itself. Education is the cure Fear of mold can be larger problem than mold itself. Education is the cure