How Dangerous is Household Mold?

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESSSince mold cannot make their own carbohydrates
Have you ever been in a home or office and itlike plants do, they have to eat foods containing
had a light musty smell? What you smelled is acarbon; also, complex nitrogen compounds, and
combination of molds. There are more thenmany elements, e.g., phosphorus, sulfur and
10,000 different species of molds. Molds are partmanganese. They release enzymes to digest
of our natural environment. You might say thatcellulose, protein, and fats. Molds can grow on
molds are natures little housekeepers. There arevirtually any substrate, including jet fuel, paint,
four growth requirements that mold spores needsrubber, textiles, electrical equipment, glass and
to exist: moisture, temperature, oxygen and foodstainless steel. Sometimes, as in the case of glass
source. Molds live anywhere that has a moistand steel, the nourishment offered by the
atmosphere. They feed on dead decaying mattersubstrate is only the dirt and grease on its
such as wallpaper, carpets, paint, wood, fabricssurface.
and bathroom showers. They are big consumersCan mold cause health problems?
of homes 
.Eliminating mold, click on:Mold spores have the potential to cause health
 problems. There was a health situation in Austin,
It is true that molds are part of our environmentTexas. A 72 acre estate with a beautiful home
indoors and outdoors. The best way to controlwas quarantined. The family had many health
mold is to keep your home dry. Householdproblems from asthma to losing their memory.
plumbing should be checked once mold sporesThe problem was household mold. The mold is
begin growing. Bathrooms with showers are thecalled Stachybotrys which is a lethal mold. It is
culprits in mold’s growth. De-Humidifiers keeppart of a family of molds called Mycotoxins which
rooms dry so mold spores cannot grow.becomes airborne and breathing can be a health
How do they grow?problem. Mold produces allergens that cause
 allergic reactions. Inhaling or touching mold spores
Molds are formed by long chains of cells whichmay cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
create spores which root themselves and beginAllergic responses include hay fever type
reproducing. In fact one square foot of moldysymptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red
drywall is a community of over 300 million moldeyes and skin rash. For more detailed information
spores. Mold spores waft through the indoor andconsult a health professional.
outdoor air continually.