Co-Authored By:
Asked by: Agar Bernacer
home and garden indoor environmental qualityWhat is the purpose of mold?
Mold is a growth of minute fungi forming on vegetable or animal matter, commonly as a downy or furry coating and associated with decay or dampness. By decomposing organic matter, molds play a big part in material biodegradation, enabling decay and rot necessary in all ecosystems.
Keeping this in view, why is mold important?
Molds are fungi that are microscopic in size. In the natural environment, molds are important and desirable because they hasten the decomposition of organic material such as fallen leaves and dead trees. Indoors, however, mold growth is undesirable. For humans, the molds that grow indoors can be of particular concern.
Keeping this in view, what will mold in your house do to you?
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions.
Mold belongs to a group of organisms called fungi (singular fungus). The body of molds is made of filaments (thread-like structures or root-like). Mold is found everywhere. In indoor environment, mold is most often associated with damp, musty locations such as bathrooms, basements and attics.