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

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