Mold is a type of fungus and is common in our environment. Mold/fungus is necessary to help breakdown and decay dead trees and other organic matter.
Mold in our homes is a problem. In the Old Testament Book of Leviticus, Israelites were instructed that mold in their homes was unhealthy. They were also given guidelines for cleaning or removal of mold and also when it was appropriate to tear the house down.
In recent years, our medical science has identified many Possible Symptoms of Mold Exposure. The more toxic types of mold do not grow in our homes unless there has been water damage that soaked materials for several days giving the mold an opportunity to grow. The water may have been from a single episode that was not dried quickly or thoroughly. Or the water may have been from a slow leak from a pipe or roof etc.
Our exposure to the mold can be from touching, ingesting or breathing bits of mold, microbial voc's,
mycotoxins or spores. Mold reproduces by releasing spores, each spore is like a seed and capable of growing a new mold colony under the right conditions. Mold will produce the most spores when it is going dormant or losing its moisture source. A single colony of penicillium, one square inch in size, may contain as many as 400,000,000 spores.
It is very important that mold removal be done properly by professionals to prevent exposure of individuals to the mold and to prevent spreading the mold spores through the rest of the building. Mold generally appears dark or black but may also be white, brown, yellow or green. If the mold is on a non-porous surface or is a small area, you may remove the mold yourself. If it is over about 2 sq. ft. and on porous materials, you should have a professional do the removal.