Mold Tutorial from Images

[Guest guest]

I think it will help if we all have a clearer understanding of what

mold is and what it isn't. Google has some really good photos

which can be accessed by searching for " mold growth " and then

clicking on " Images. "

What you see is often like the first image (and most of the

others). This iconic image by Terry Brennan shows colonies of a

variety of types of mold resulting from airborne moisture flow

through the top of the door and across the ceiling. It is not

growing on the walls. Where you sample will make a huge

difference in the lab results.

The image 3rd to the right is much different. Mold is growing on

the walls but not the ceiling because the water source soaked up

the drywall from the floor. Also, notice how the color changes

right near the top of the growth. Different mold because of slightly

different moisture levels at the edge of the dampness. If this area

were to be sampled you would get drastically different results

based on the exact location of the sample.

If any of the above mold growth were sporulating then their

spores, along with others having nothing to do with the situation,

might show up depending on the type of sample, where collected,

etc etc.

BTW, I've seen air samples from rooms like many in these

images with the conclusion that " there is no mold problem. "

Because of the assinine and discredited methods of interpreting

results, plus the bias of who collected the samples. But that is for

another time.

Scrolling down you will see " Page 2 " and the first image is a

culture plate with mold growth. It looks much different than the

previous images for obvious reasons and because it is from a

settling plate. Only the spores in the air which are alive and which

are heavy enough to settle from the air and happen by chance to

land on the plate which has the right kind of food (agar) will grow.

They may or may not be from the " growth " in the previous

images.

What none of these show is bacteria, actinomycetes, and

anything other then mold *growth.*

The growth, or colony, is what is visible. Spores are the seeds

and are too small to see with the naked eye. Got to Page 4 and

the first image shows spores flowing from a single stalk of the

mold growth colony. All of which is too small to see with the

naked eye.

Page 5, second down, left side. This identifies some of the many

parts of a mold growth colony. The illustration below it is a

diagram of mold growth. BTW, the MC (moisture content of the

surface) will determine whether or not mold spores will germinate

and form colonies. Of all the different types of spores always in

the air only some will grow. Change the MC slightly and different

ones will grow.

BTW, the surface with MC where the mold is growing is where

the " biofilm " will form. It is not automatic and is not part of the

mold " plant. " It is a film of dampness along with dust, old mold,

bacteria and other " filth " which accumulates on the surface over

time. As it develops other molds and bacteria previously unable

to grow may now start to " make babies " and further populate their

little " city " called a " biofilm. "

Go back to the culture plate on Page 2. What you see is mold

growth which will have some spores. But the massive amount of

substance is " biomass " and not spores. Which is part of what Dr

Thrasher means when he says about mold, " It's more than just

spores. "

But it means much more. With dampness there will also be

growth of bacteria. It just doesn't grow in a way we can see it and

few test for it. General samples for bacteria is limited to the shape

(rod, cone, spiral) and whether it changes color with a stain (gram

positive) or doesn't (gram negative).

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC