WHAT DOES MOLD MEAN?

byby

J. H. HainesJ. H. HainesNew York State New York State

Museum Biological SurveyMuseum Biological SurveyAlbany, NY Albany, NY

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Black killer mold eats husband’s brain, poisons crystal chandelier, woman given

$32,200,000

Black killer mold eats husband’s brain, poisons crystal chandelier, woman given

$32,200,000

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-On your cheese -On your cheese -On your leather boots-On your leather boots-In your shower-In your shower-In your school-In your school

Is it a $32,000,000 Is it a $32,000,000 problem?problem?

Mold is…Mold is…

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WHAT IS A MOLD?WHAT IS A MOLD?WHAT IS A FUNGUS?WHAT IS A FUNGUS?

• Molds (=Mildew) are a Molds (=Mildew) are a simple kind of fungussimple kind of fungus

• Fungi are a kingdom Fungi are a kingdom separate from plants, separate from plants, animals, and bacteria animals, and bacteria

• Fungi have beneficial role in Fungi have beneficial role in nature nature

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Wood rot fungiWood rot fungi

This is where fungi live.

This is where fungi live.

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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

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The mycelium is the “body” of the fungusThe mycelium is the “body” of the fungus

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MushroomsMushroomsSome of the best known fungi are mushroomsSome of the best known fungi are mushrooms

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Some of them specialize in rotting woodSome of them specialize in rotting wood

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FUNGI ON WOODFUNGI ON WOOD

Many fungi are too small to noticeMany fungi are too small to notice

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MOLDMOLD

Molds are just mycelium and sporesMolds are just mycelium and spores

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SporeSporeSporeSpore

PollenPollenPollenPollen

8 8 mm

80 80 m m

Fungus spores are small

Fungus spores are small

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10 m

FUNGUS SPORES ARE EVERYWHEREFUNGUS SPORES ARE EVERYWHEREFUNGUS SPORES ARE EVERYWHEREFUNGUS SPORES ARE EVERYWHERE

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

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WATER IS THE WATER IS THE PROBLEM,PROBLEM,

MOLD IS THE MOLD IS THE SYMPTOMSYMPTOM

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JUST ADD WATER AND JUST ADD WATER AND THEY WILL GROWTHEY WILL GROW

JUST ADD WATER AND JUST ADD WATER AND THEY WILL GROWTHEY WILL GROW

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Mold is a problem Mold is a problem

when…when…

-It produces toxins-It produces toxins

-It is pathogenic-It is pathogenic

-It is just too numerous-It is just too numerous

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Paper is a favorite food of fungiPaper is a favorite food of fungiPaper is a favorite food of fungiPaper is a favorite food of fungi

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HOW DO YOU KNOW IF HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THERE IS MOLD IN YOUR THERE IS MOLD IN YOUR

BUILDING?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

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FIX THE MOISTURE FIX THE MOISTURE PROBLEM FIRST, PROBLEM FIRST, THEN CLEAN UP THEN CLEAN UP THE MOLDTHE MOLD

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

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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

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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

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THIS IS A PROBLEMTHIS IS A PROBLEMTHIS IS A PROBLEMTHIS IS A PROBLEM

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WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN PROBLEMS?

Mold Inside of wallsIn air handling ductsIn crawl spaces

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The simple technique for identifying moldThe simple technique for identifying moldThe simple technique for identifying moldThe simple technique for identifying mold

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Ulocladium, The tape sampleUlocladium, The tape sample

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A tool to sample air

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SPORES IN AN SPORES IN AN AIR SAMPLEAIR SAMPLESPORES IN AN SPORES IN AN AIR SAMPLEAIR SAMPLE

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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

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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)

33Black killer mold. Black killer mold. StachybotrysStachybotrysBlack killer mold. Black killer mold. StachybotrysStachybotrys

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STACHYBOTRYS STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARUMCHARTARUM

STACHYBOTRYS STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARUMCHARTARUM

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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

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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

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Cladosporium sphaerospermumCladosporium sphaerospermumCladosporium sphaerospermumCladosporium sphaerospermum

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Aspergillus

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Penicillium

40AlternariaAlternariaAlternariaAlternaria

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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

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SUMMARYSUMMARY

• Mold spores are everywhereMold spores are everywhere

• Water is the problem. Mold is the Water is the problem. Mold is the symptomsymptom

• You don’t have to spray itYou 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 Fear of mold can be larger problem than mold itself. Education is the than mold itself. Education is the curecure