Molds live in the soil, on plants, and on dead or decaying matter.
Outdoors, molds play a key role in the breakdown of leaves, wood, and
other plant debris. Molds belong to the kingdom Fungi, and unlike
plants, they lack chlorophyll and must survive by digesting plant
materials, using plant and other organic materials for food. Without
molds, our environment would be overwhelmed with large amounts of dead
plant matter.
Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as some plants produce
seeds. These mold spores can be found in both indoor and
outdoor air, and settled on indoor and outdoor surfaces. When mold
spores land on a damp spot, they may begin growing and digesting
whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Since molds
gradually destroy the things they grow on, you can prevent
damage to building materials and furnishings and save money by
eliminating mold growth.
Moisture control is the key to mold control. Molds need both food and
water to survive; since molds can digest most things, water is the
factor that limits mold growth. Molds will often grow in damp or wet
areas indoors. Common sites for indoor mold growth include
bathroom tile, basement walls, areas around windows where moisture
condenses, and near leaky water fountains or sinks. Common sources or
causes of water or moisture problems include roof leaks, deferred
maintenance, condensation associated with high humidity or cold spots in
the building, localized flooding due to plumbing failures or heavy
rains, slow leaks in plumbing fixtures, and malfunction or
poor design of humidification systems. Uncontrolled humidity
can also be a source of moisture leading to mold growth,
particularly in hot, humid climates.
For additional scientific information about mold: What
is Fungal Mold Mycology Research
