Have you noticed a musty odour in your home or perhaps seen evidence of mold growing somewhere in your basement or crawl space? Perhaps you or one of your family members have experienced allergies and you are not sure what it may be attributed to, it could be mold.
Mold is often smelled or causes allergic reactions before it can be seen. Mold is a result of moisture intrusion issues in your home. It can cause health problems and it can affect the structural safety of your home.
Below are some useful facts to help your knowledge of mold and to help you better understand if you may require mold testing . According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in order to better understand mold growth one must know the following important facts:

• mold can be harmful or helpful – depending on where it grows
• mold needs moisture to grow
• mold growing inside a home can negatively affect the occupants’ health

Mold can be Harmful or Helpful
As stated in the CCA 82 – 2004 Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry:
“Mould, or fungi, has existed on Earth since life first began, and results in the natural decomposition (recycling) of organic materials. In the built environment, fungi and mould damages wood, wallboard and other materials and causes them to rot. The growth of fungi on materials in the built environment can affect human health, depending on the extent of growth, the length of exposure, and the health status of the exposed personnel. Because many regulatory agencies now consider mould growth a health hazard, there has been an increase in litigation, originally limited to the United States but now being seen in Canada.”
However, mold can also be helpful. Some antibiotics are obtained from a specific type of mold, as well as some foods and beverages are made by the actions of mold, one obvious example of this is cheese. The important differentiation between helpful and harmful molds is that the good types of molds are usually selected and grown in a controlled fashion. The bad types of molds, are the types that enter a building or structure and grown due to some sort of moisture intrusion problem. These are the molds that we can assess with professional mold testing and that if homeowners are not careful, can rapidly grow (24-48 hrs), and become a very prominent health issue. If you suspect you may have a mold problem it is important to contact a certified inspection and mold testing company sooner rather than later. If mold is caught quickly, remediation efforts and health affects will likely be greatly reduced.

Mold Needs Moisture to Grow
There exists some estimated 300 000 species of mold in the world. In Canada, there are over 1 000 varieties. The specific species of mold and quantity of spores should be identified by a certified laboratory, as a result of a professional taking a proper sample during your scheduled mold testing appointment.
Mold exists to a certain extent everywhere. There are microscopic spores in almost every location on the globe. Mold only becomes a problem when it starts to take over an existing surface, like a wall or bathroom tiles and grout. This is when the mold growth, because of its’ extreme concentration in these such cases, can become a health hazard and/or a structural problem for your home.
Mold is a very simple life form that needs only moisture and a food source (which could be almost any surface found around the home.) Mold exists in two stages and can complete its’ growth process in 48 hours. Moisture is the most important component that mold needs to grow, as it does not need light or any specific food source or surface. Of course, mold will grow easier on a porous surface such as concrete; however mold may grow even on non-porous surfaces such as glass. A swab or bulk sample during your mold testing appointment can determine whether mold is in fact growing on a specific surface.

Mold Growing inside a Home can negatively affect the Occupants’ Health
As most people are aware it is now considered fact by the scientific and health care communities that mold does negatively affect human health. Depending on the individual, their exposure and the type of mold the affects may vary from a very minor allergic reaction (sniffling, congestion, hay fever) to exceptionally severe, invasive disease such as asthma and other lung issues, as spores may enter the lungs. Some molds, such as stachybotrys, may produce extremely toxic (potent) mycotoxins. Exposure to these toxins can occur through inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure.
Mold can grow in your home without necessarily being seen (i.e. behind the drywall, in your HVAC system). Even though you may not see the mold, it can still affect the health of you and your family. If members of your family start to exhibit such symptoms as coughing, hay fever, asthma symptoms, nail infections etc. you may want to consider having a mold testing professional check your home.