HOW DOES MOLD GROW?
Mold needs three things to grow:
Moisture
Moisture is the key to mold growth and enters our dwellings in a variety of ways. Leaky roofs, high humidity, wet basements, plumbing leaks, and improperly sealed windows or doors are just some of the ways water infiltrates a structure and allows mold to grow.
Temperature
Mold spores can thrive in cool and warm climates, but most prefer temperatures ranging from approximately 50° Fahrenheit to 80° Fahrenheit, making indoor environments excellent breeding grounds.
Food Source
Mold eats only organic material, as they primarily dine on cellulose. Plenty of organic materials used in home and office construction contain cellulose, such as drywall, wood, and even carpet with organic fibers. Mold will not eat synthetic material, but it will dine on the organic debris that land on synthetics, such as dead skin, dust, or oils. This is called ghosting.
WHAT ARE SPORES?
Mold reproduces by way of spores, which are microscopic in size and are measured in units called microns. To put it into perspective, a raindrop is approximately 600 microns. Most mold spores, by comparison, range in size from 5–30 microns, making them impossible to see with the naked eye and allowing them to move easily through the air with even the slightest disturbance.
Wind, water, insects, and human or animal movements can all move spores around a dwelling. Mold spores can easily pass through small cracks, window screens, and doorways and can stay in the air for prolonged periods of time, often doing so until they find appropriate conditions for reproduction.
Mold spores can be viable or non–viable. A viable spore can actively reproduce, while a non-viable spore will not actively reproduce. Not all non–viable spores are dead, some may simply be dormant until favorable conditions for growth arise.
REMOVAL IS KEY
When an adverse mold condition exists, seek the advice of a remediation professional: MAS Labs – 1.800.470.4844
Call MAS Labs today for a free consultation or to schedule a comprehensive mold inspection.
1.800.470.4844
Mold is a sub-group of the
fungi kingdom. There are no
clear counts of how many types
of mold exist, but estimates
range from tens of thousands
to hundreds of thousands. The
purpose of mold on Earth is to aid
in the decomposition of dead plant matter.
Without mold we would be buried in plant decay. Mold can be from the warmest to the coolest of climates.
