Is Mold Really Our Enemy?

5/16/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is a four-letter word… the very mention of mold stirs negative feelings. Yet mold is a necessary part of life. Bread makers and people who make wine, beer and cheese also rely upon mold and yeasts, all part of the fungi kingdom. Molds are part of our ecosystem. Saying mold is bad is not a realistic statement. Tens of thousands of different molds have been identified and studied. Did you know that the commonly know pharmaceutical antibiotic Penicillin derives from the Penicillium Mold?

Only a few produce negative effects on people. Tell a baker, winemaker, brewer or cheese maker that molds and yeasts are bad and you will get a funny look.

There are molds that are able to produce tiny spores that become airborne and these spores can pass through our respiratory system and into the Alveoli sacks in our lungs and cause toxins to enter our bloodstream. Infants, seniors and anyone with a compromised immune system are susceptible. These molds are called, “toxic black mold.”

Problem is, the majority of molds are black in color. Some are white, yellow and pink, but black is the most common color. People hear about “black toxic mold” and then equate the black mold that they see on a window frame as being this potentially harmful variety of “toxic mold”. There are contractors who make a living playing off of the public’s fear and lack of knowledge about mold. They charge big fees to remove mold of any variety, harmful or not.

For realistic information about mold, one of the best sources to learn about mold is to visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website using mold as a search phrase. You will get easy to understand information about mold, and even tips on how to remove it. Another thing to do is to give us a call. SERVPRO of Belmont San Carlos at 650-591-4137.