| People living in humid region are well-acquainted | | | | on the organic matter for food. Since the cells do |
| with Molds and Mildews. They appear as green, | | | | not contain chlorophyll, photosynthesis is not the |
| black, or grey spots on the walls or any other | | | | way of collecting nutrition for molds. They secrete |
| surface. Molds and mildews have a velvety look. | | | | certain enzymes from the tip of the hyphae. |
| They damage the substrate on which they grow. | | | | These hydrolytic enzymes degrade organic |
| Often a musty odor is observed around mold | | | | substances like cellulose, starch or lignin into |
| contaminated surface. | | | | simpler organic materials which can be absorbed |
| Is there any difference between mold and | | | | by the hyphae. This way molds collect their |
| mildew? To be precise, there is a fine line | | | | nutrition. |
| between the two terms. Certain types of molds | | | | While collecting energy, they decompose |
| are referred as mildew. When molds grow on any | | | | biopolymers into simpler forms and maintain |
| organic substance, they form a network; network | | | | balance in the environment. They are helpful |
| of filament-like structure, known as hyphae. The | | | | members of the environment. Apart from, helping |
| hyphae of the molds grow in such a way that | | | | in biodegradation, some mold species are used in |
| looks like a net. This type of growth is often | | | | food production and drug creation as well. |
| called mildew provided it has a flat growth habit. | | | | But both molds and mildews can be health |
| Molds and mildews are present everywhere. They | | | | hazardous when they grow inside dwelling places. |
| belong to the fungi group. They are microscopic | | | | Home, garden, office, school, commercial houses, |
| bodies with primitive cell structure. The main | | | | parks, laundry, shops - molds can grow anywhere. |
| feature of molds is the multi-cellular filament, also | | | | Once molds and mildews grow the surrounding |
| known as hypha. Molds never live alone - they | | | | area becomes unhealthy. Airborne mold spores |
| form colony where the hyphae and the branches | | | | and hyphal fragments contaminate the air. Inhaling |
| of hyphae of multiple mold bodies form a | | | | such impure air could lead to various health |
| mesh-like structure. Mold colony is also known as | | | | problems. Kill mold spray is the only option to |
| mycelium. | | | | clean mold from your home and remove the |
| As mentioned earlier in the article, flat mold | | | | moldy odor. |
| growth is often referred as mildew. Powdery | | | | Molds and mildews do not attack human beings |
| mildew is a type of mildew that attacks plants. | | | | directly; the spores and hyphal segments are |
| Downy mildew is another type associated with | | | | allergens. People, who have weak immune system |
| plants. Mildew and mold remover can help people | | | | or undergoing immune-suppressing medication, |
| kill molds and mildews. | | | | suffer most from molds and mildews. Itchy and |
| There are hundreds of mold species in the | | | | watery eyes, headache, chest congestion, difficult |
| environment. Molds reproduce through spore | | | | breathing, respiratory problem, sickness, fever are |
| formation. These spores are released in air. | | | | the common symptoms of mold infection. |
| Spores then travel from one place to another in | | | | Toxic black mold is a species of mold which |
| search of right conditions. As soon as they get a | | | | secrete mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are harmful for |
| place where all the conditions for life, moisture, | | | | human health. Ingesting mycotoxins with food or |
| organic materials and air, are present, they start | | | | touching the substance can lead to food poison, |
| colonizing. | | | | fever, sickness and skin rashes. |
| They grow on organic substances. They depend | | | | |