What is Toxic Mold?

Mold is a fungi that obtains nutrients from organic matter. Mold consists of long, highly branched thread-like linear groups of cells (hyphae) that intertwine to form the fungus body (mycelium). These threads can penetrate many materials but especially like common building materials such as drywall, wallboard, wallpaper and insulation, all of which contain organic materials that are good sources of nutrients. Molds generally require a water source, nutrients, and an appropriate temperature for growth. A humidity level of greater than 50% is considered to be a water source. A temperature of 40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit is prime for mold growth. Mold is a plant, but rather than spreading through seeds, mold is spread through spores, which are essentially seeds that are undetectable to the human eye. They travel like dust throughout the home and can grow anywhere. 

The consensus of opinion from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FEMA, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), mycologists and microbiologists is that mold can start to grow rapidly and spread within 24 to 48 hours in structures damaged by water.