Mould: the uninvited tenant Is all mould harmful? How do you tell the difference between harmful moulds and moulds that aren’t? What effects does mould have on your health and why? How do I get rid of mould? Dennis French, MBC’s Strategic Advisor for Environmental Services, gives us a deep dive into all things mould. W H A T IS M O U L D ? Moulds, from the Kingdom of Fungi, are microscopic organisms that can be found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. They are a natural part of the decay and decomposition cycle of all organic materials (materials that are or were once living) such as leaves, grass, wood, paper and foods. So what does mould look like to the average person? As it grows, mould will take on a wide variety of different colours depending on where it is in its life cycle, what material it is growing on, and what type of species of mould it is. During the early growth phases of many moulds, there is no visible colour, and it is not until later in the life cycle during the spore production phase, that the colours become present. Many resources talk about black mould as something to be very cautious about, but not all black mould is the bad kind. Stachybotrys is the one to be cautious about because it is toxinproducing. Mycotoxins The toxins generated by mould growth are known as Mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are produced by a mould colony to defend itself from other mould colonies overrunning its growth area. In Figure 1 above, you can note different circular areas along with the piece of drywall with different colours of growth. These are all individual colonies trying to protect the food (the drywall) on which they are living. The Mycotoxins are produced as an attempt to make the area unfavourable to other mould colonies. However, as humans, we are susceptible to irritation and the other effects of Figure 1: Varied colours of mould colonies on the same material, drywall Some of these moulds or fungi we know (like the kind we enjoy on our salads or steaks), but most moulds are regarded as allergens or asthma triggers in the right conditions. Some even produce toxins to protect themselves and their environments. these toxins. Toxingenerating mould is therefore something we should strive to avoid in the home. I D EA L EN V I RO NM E N T S F O R M O U L D T O G R O W I N The three key components for the development of mould are temperature, food source and moisture.
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