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Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plant and animal matter. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they grow on virtually any substance when moisture is present.

Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as plants produce seeds. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Some molds can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods and even dynamite.

There is no practical way to eliminate all molds indoors; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

• Mold truly is everywhere but that's a good thing. Mold performs a needed function in our natural environment. That is the breakdown of organic materials, especially cellulose (plant products, and wood), so that these substances can be naturally reused in the environment.
• Not all people are affected to the same degree from mold. Some people are very resistant to molds effects and others are very sensitive. However, mold may cause health problems in certain individuals. Molds may be allergenic, toxic (poisonous), or may cause infections. The allergenic effects are the most common. Toxic effects are rare but may occur from certain molds under certain conditions. Infections very rarely occur in healthy individuals and are generally found only in hospitals among immune compromised individuals.
• Mold needs liquid water to complete its life cycle. High humidity is only a problem when the moisture condenses (becomes liquid) on a cool surface. A good rule of thumb is control the moisture, control the mold.
• Mold grows best in areas where there is very little fresh air and no sunshine. Basements, crawl spaces, closets, and inside walls are places where mold can flourish.
• Testing for mold, in your house or building, is a good way to determine the how much mold is there or what kinds of mold are present. If you see what appears to be mold in your living space, if you believe someone is having a health problem from mold or if you are conducting a mold remediation (cleanup) project, mold testing should be performed.
• Testing should also be done to evaluate the success of a mold remediation effort. This is often referred to as “Clearance Testing”. All mold testing and air quality testing should be carried out by a certified mold inspector (CMI) and proper protocol and chain of custody procedures should be followed for all samples taken.