When green mold appears on the walls, the first instinct is to clean off the unsightly stain with a scraper or detergents. Such a fight will lead nowhere: microorganisms are very tenacious and reproduce easily. If radical measures are not taken, the fungus will quickly begin to conquer new territories.
What is green mold
This is what green mold looks like on the walls
Visible manifestations occur when the fungus is already firmly established on the surface. First, microscopic spores fall into a barely noticeable crack, scattering throughout the space along with air currents. Once in a warm and humid environment, they wake up and begin to release mycelium. The mycelium penetrates deep into the plaster or wood, and only after that a green coating forms on the surface. The colony has taken root, now it is not afraid of the cold, and it can get moisture from the air.
The green mold patch is made up of ascomycete fungi. They prefer to settle on organic matter, but will not disdain the stone surface, penetrating deep into the thickness of the base. Seeing green spot on a loaf, apple or other food product, throw it in the trash, or better yet, burn it completely. If you cut top layer, everything inside will be permeated with mycelium, which can cause poisoning.
What mold looks like depends on the type of fungus - green colonies resemble miniature moss. Under a microscope, it is noticeable that the mass consists of a huge number of thin flexible villi. At the ends there are balls in which spores form and develop. When the time comes, the shell of the sphere bursts and the seeds fly out. The embryos are dormant and reliably protected. They can even go to space, but returning to comfortable conditions, will come to life and begin to grow.
Signs of fungus in the house
A persistent runny nose is one of the signs that mold has appeared in the house.
Mold is an insidious and hidden enemy. You need to monitor the condition of your home so as not to miss the very beginning of the spread of the fungus. You may notice that the air in the apartment has become stale and heavy. Children suddenly developed allergies, and older people sneezed constantly. There is no need to attribute these signs to climate change, seasonal phenomena, or the machinations of an evil neighbor who has unleashed mischief on the whole family. The explanation is simple - there is mold in the house.
Signs of mold infestation in your apartment:
- Even after airing, the house feels stuffy and musty.
- Products quickly become moldy and spoil.
- The paint on the walls is peeling and the plaster layer is being destroyed.
- Washed laundry takes a long time to dry, fabric items always seem damp.
- Family members experience strange ailments: watery eyes, skin rashes, coughing, runny nose, sneezing.
- There is a specific moldy smell in the apartment.
If all other signs can arise for other reasons, then musty air clearly indicates the presence of mold.
Measures to destroy the fungus must be taken in non-residential premises: garages, cellars, sheds. The spores will infect the objects and products located there and will gradually destroy building structures.
The invisible mycelium is so insidious that over time it can lead to the complete destruction of the building.
The effect of mold on human health
Don't believe the rumors that green mycelium is safe for humans because it is used to make penicillin. Antibiotics are made from special type fungi in laboratory conditions. “Moss” on the walls will not clear the air of bacteria, but will have a negative effect on human health.
Mold releases billions of spores into the air, they land on a moist, warm surface and release mycelium, forming a new colony. As a result of its vital activity, gaseous gases are formed chemical compounds having a specific odor. These substances are dangerous to the health of all household inhabitants; their influence develops:
- respiratory diseases;
- skin diseases;
- conjunctivitis;
- thrush;
- indigestion;
- stomatitis;
- allergy.
First of all, signs of illness appear in elderly family members, children, and people with weak immune systems.
If one of the inhabitants of the apartment begins to complain of poor health, move him to the dacha, send him to a sanatorium or to visit relatives while you deal with the destruction of mold. If you leave a patient in a room infected with fungi, his condition will worsen, and consequences such as emphysema or internal bleeding may occur.
When the colonies are reached large sizes Even the healthiest person can get sick.
Fighting fungus on walls with improvised means
Folk remedies for mold
You can try to remove a small speck of green mold traditional methods. If the mycelium has not had time to grow deep into the wall, the fungus will no longer appear in this area. Almost all antiseptic agents discolor or change the color of finishing materials, so first test their effects in an area out of sight.
To remove stains, use what you have on hand:
- vinegar;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- soda solution;
- ammonia;
- detergents containing chlorine;
- tea tree oil.
Observe the area you have treated. If the stain appears again, use more radical methods. Remove the finishing coating, tap the plaster and knock off all the places where there are voids. If there is no risk of fire, burn the affected area blowtorch, and after cooling, treat the walls with an anti-mold agent.
Be careful with what you shoot finishing materials and broken plaster, they are all permeated with mycelium. To prevent re-infestation, collect waste in a sealed bag and dispose of it.
Chemicals for mold
To select the best remedy for a specific area, read the instructions carefully. There are universal preparations, as well as substances for internal or external surfaces. Pay attention to the method of application: there are ready-to-use products and concentrates that need to be diluted with water.
Antiseptics have received good reviews:
- "Dali"
- "Olympus Stop Mold";
- "Titan Fungicide";
- "Atlas Mykos".
Carry out processing in strict accordance with the instructions. After applying the solution, wait at least a day and then proceed with the repair.
Add an antiseptic to the plaster, glue, and other intermediate layers; it will act on the remaining areas of the mycelium and prevent the mycelium from developing.
Preventive measures
Fighting mold is difficult; it’s easier to prevent it from appearing in the house. It is impossible to isolate an apartment from spores; microscopic grains penetrate through doors, windows, and ventilation holes. Create conditions so that the mycelium has nowhere to develop, and the problem will be solved. Do not allow cracks to appear in the finishing layer, do it in a timely manner cosmetic repairs. Maintain plumbing and sewerage: running taps create humidity that is comfortable for fungus.
Plastic windows protect your home from noise, dust and drafts, but when installing them, care should be taken to ensure good ventilation. In a hermetically sealed room, mold is sure to settle.
To protect yourself from microorganisms, take the following measures:
- Ventilate the room more often.
- Demand from management company Eliminate freezing of walls, roof leaks and seams between panels.
- Do not store spoiled food, throw it away immediately.
- Do not place furniture close to the walls, leave gaps for ventilation.
- Once a month, use an antifungal agent to clean areas where mold may grow.
- Monitor the status indoor plants and earth in pots, special attention Pay attention to geranium and violet: mold loves these flowers more than others.
When buying an apartment in an old building, pay attention to the smell. Before selling, the owners can give the premises a “marketable appearance”: paste new wallpaper, turn off faulty taps. Obvious traces of mold will be hidden, but the condition of the air will reveal the presence of fungus.
Have you noticed black, yellow, white or brown spots on the ceiling, in the bathroom or on food, most often on bread? Meet mold. It is a type of fungus that develops in the form of multicellular filaments. Mold cannot obtain food, so the fungus relies on organic matter on which it grows.
In the air of an apartment, mold is present in the form of spores, and it grows only in humid conditions. There are over 100,000 types of mold, some of which are extremely harmful and others play an important role in biodegradation. This review will discuss some of the most common types of mold and their health effects.
Common Types of Mold
There are many types of mold, but they can all be classified broadly into three main groups based on human response: allergic, pathogenic and toxic.
Allergic mold
This form of mold contains allergens that can be extremely harmful to our health, especially for those people who do not have strong immune systems or suffer from asthma. The fungus remains dormant and grows when it is in favorable conditions; allergic mold in an apartment may be present in the form of microscopic spores that are inhaled through the nose and penetrate into the upper respiratory tract and lungs. This is one of the main causes of allergic rhinitis. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria and Cladosporiu are some of the most common mold allergens.
Pathogenic mold
Pathogenic species are those that can cause disease. Therefore, we can say that this is a category of mold that can cause disease. Healthy people with normal immunity generally resist infection by pathogenic spores, but children, infants, the elderly and people with weak immune systems, especially those suffering from pneumonia, bronchitis and after chemotherapy, can be harmed by these types of mold. This form of mold includes Bipolaris, which produces gray and black-brown colonies and is characterized by rapid growth. 
Toxic mold
Toxic molds remain the most dangerous. They can lead to serious complications, which can result in death. Bathroom mold produces mycotoxins, also known as fungal metabolites, which are extremely toxic in nature. Black mold is included in this category and is therefore considered quite dangerous to humans and animals. These types of mold can cause a variety of health problems, ranging from minor irritation to cancer.
Below are some of the most common types of mold that can harm your home, food, and even your health. Look.
Stachybotrys
This mold on the walls looks slimy and black. It is also known as black mold. You can find it on the walls of an apartment, bathroom, trees, paper and cardboard in conditions of high humidity. It produces mycotoxin, which is very dangerous for humans and animals. Heaviness in the chest, cough, nosebleeds, fever, headache, flu, and so on, are all the most common symptoms of mold toxin poisoning.
Aspergillus
There are more than 185 species of Aspergillus. This mold on the walls is the most widespread, and it is also considered the most common cause of fungal diseases in Russia. Mold can be found in homes and offices and produces mycotoxin, which can lead to a number of complications including respiratory problems, allergies and more. Aspergillus can cause death in some cases. Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger are the most common species.
Disinfection, removal of mold on walls
Fusarium
This mold occurs in the soil and is well known as soil fungus. It grows on plants, wet areas of the ground, wetlands, etc. It produces a mycotoxin that is either inhaled by humans or transmitted through contaminated grains and plants. The mycotoxin can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis and internal bleeding. It can even influence nervous system, reproductive system and the circulatory system.
Penicillin
This mold is harmful and in some cases beneficial. You can find it on paint, wallpaper, carpets, food products, rotten vegetables, etc. It is often found on forgotten sandwiches and pieces of bread. This mold can cause lung problems associated with asthma and allergies. It is also used in food industry and is used to create Camembert, Roquefort and other cheeses. Penicillin is used as antibiotics to help fight other types of harmful fungi. P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. janthinellum are some of the more common species.
Cladosporium
Cladosporium includes more than 30 species, which can be green, black, gray or brown. This mold has a velvety texture and smooth appearance. It can be found in poorly ventilated areas, on the foundations of walls, decomposing food, clothing, etc. These species have been blamed for nail fungus, asthma, skin lesions, lung infections, etc.
These were the types of mold that were most common. You should be careful about this issue to avoid the spread of mold, which can be hazardous to your health, and apply a mold repellent promptly. If your home is suffering from mold, get rid of it with the help of a professional. If you want to get rid of mold yourself, take proper precautions to avoid complications. There is a huge list of harmful and harmless mold that is present around us all the time in the form of spores.
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and the fruits appear soft, watery, easily pressed with a finger, rotten skin, slightly dented, wrinkled. Decayed areas are covered with superficial, pressed mycelium, forming a narrow white border around a blue coating consisting of conidiophores and fungal conidia. The palmately branched conidiophores bear chains of ellipsoidal, sometimes ovoid, smooth spores measuring (3–5) x (2–3) µm. Spores come off easily.
Blue mold affects all types of citrus fruits and most often fruits with mechanical damage. The disease is also transmitted by contact of affected fruits with healthy ones. Fruits that are overripe, unstorable, and also affected by other diseases are easily affected by this mold.
The development of blue mold is favored by elevated temperatures and high relative humidity. Low storage temperatures (0+1°C) greatly retard the development of the fungus.
Green mold
The causative agent is Penicillium digitalum Sac.
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In terms of the nature of its development, green mold strongly resembles blue mold. Its distinctive feature is the formation of a wide white smearing blurry stripe around the initial spot on the affected part of the peel. The peel affected by green mold sticks to the wrapping paper. The pulp of the fruit becomes flabby and acquires a bitter, unpleasant taste.
The fungus produces conidia only on the surface of the fruit. The spores are cylindrical, sometimes almost spherical, measuring (6–8) x (4–7) µm, arranged in chains. Conidiophores have a racemose structure. The development of the disease is promoted by the same conditions as blue mold.
Wet white rot [sclerotinia]
Pathogen – Sclerotinia libertiana Fuck
Parts of the fruit affected by rot are initially leathery and elastic. Later, during the development of the outer white flocculent mycelium, the fruit becomes soft and flabby. The fungus also forms black, irregularly shaped sclerotia up to 1–3 cm in size.
The disease especially affects lemons during storage and is transmitted to healthy fruits through contact with affected ones. Its development is facilitated by mechanical damage to fruits, their poor keeping quality, low temperature and high relative humidity in the garden and storage.
Soft black rot [aspergillus]
The causative agent is Aspergillus niger van Tiegh.
At the beginning of the disease, a light color appears on the surface of the peel. soft spot, easily pressed when pressed with a finger. A white coating of fungal mycelium forms on the affected area, then sporulation appears in the form of a black powdery mass consisting of conidiophores and fungal conidia. The spores are spherical, smooth, later tuberculate, 2–5 µm in diameter, arranged in chains.
The disease affects citrus fruits during storage, especially at high temperatures. It is spread by spores through the air and through contact of healthy fruits with affected ones.
Black rot [alternaria]
The causative agent is Alternaria citri Pierce.
The fruits turn dark orange prematurely. Outwardly they appear healthy, sometimes a small brown spot, more precisely, dark brown in the center and lighter at the edges. This spot is usually located at the place of attachment of the stalk, sometimes on the side of the fruit. Fungus sporulation and exudate are not formed on the surface of the fruit. The fungus spreads mainly in the tissues of the axial cavity of the fetus.
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Therefore, black-olive rot is detected when cutting the fruit, especially at the upper end. In areas affected by rot, an olive-brown coating of the fungus sometimes forms. The spores are elongated, ovoid, oblong-ellipsoidal olive brown, measuring (25–40) x (15–25) µm with 3–6 transverse and one or more longitudinal septa.
The disease is widespread and damages citrus fruits during storage. Most often it develops on fruits with reduced viability after long-term storage, but oranges are sometimes affected on plantations. The development of the disease in storage facilities is delayed at low temperatures and low air humidity.
Where does mold appear on food, even when sealed in containers?
It must be said that black and green mold prudently scattered their spores in huge quantities throughout the world. Mold spores are found almost everywhere - we inhale them with air into our lungs, they end up on food, where, when favorable conditions, germinate immediately.
Different types of mold have different structures, but all types are similar in one thing: mold has two types of threads. Some threads extend upward and contain spores, while other threads penetrate deep into the food product and form mycelium. The threads of mold in a food product can extend over the entire area, so bread that is moldy on only one side cannot be eaten after cutting off this part.
Black and green mold are so named for the coloring of their outer filaments. These two types of mold are the most common in our lives.
Green mold.
Green mold (Trichoderma), which is found on food, is a close relative of the green mold that lives in the soil and serves as the basis for the production of the antibiotic penicillin.
Green mold can grow very quickly on the surface and also grow in threads throughout the entire depth of the product. Very quickly at high humidity and warmer, green mold covers the entire surface of the product.
Products where the patch was spotted green mold, you need to throw it away without hesitation: the threads that formed the mycelium can be toxic and cause severe poisoning. By removing the film of green mold from the jam, we did not protect the product: toxins are already in the jam. If you eat it, you can get poisoned and, as a result, liver cancer.
Black mold, or "Blackbeard" is a common mold that sends its spores into the air in huge quantities if it is even slightly disturbed. This type of mold is known for the fact that, by producing a colossal amount of spores, it can cause serious human illness, suffocation, lacrimation, nasal congestion, bronchitis, asthma, allergies, and cancer. Black mold primarily feeds on simple carbohydrates found in organic matter.
We most often find black mold on the walls of damp entrances, in the bathroom between tiles and at the joints, in the vegetable cellar. Black mold is extremely toxic - it causes allergies, asthma, cancer, and other human diseases due to regular intoxication.
Mold black, green - how to deal with it.
Mold is extremely difficult to combat. You can make expensive home renovations using the most modern materials, but if two parameters of your home - heat and moisture - suit mold, it will settle on the the latest materials. When mold spores land on a damp surface, they immediately grow in threads inside the material, slowly destroying both health and home.
Mold loves a temperature of +20 degrees, humidity 95% and the absence of ventilation and drafts. To combat mold, the first thing you need to ensure is: good ventilation premises and combating humidity where it is not needed.
Dirt in the house is another factor that significantly increases the mold infestation of the home, because mold spores in large quantities are in house dust and are waiting in the wings to germinate.
Wooden products, books, natural fabrics should not be kept in a damp place. Libraries need good ventilation to prevent mold from contaminating books.
Condensation, leaking water from the tap, constantly wet walls in the bathroom - excellent conditions so that mold stays with you forever.
At sub-zero temperatures, mold spores do not die. Mold is afraid of high temperatures, but to destroy all spores, you need to boil the item at 100 degrees for 2 hours.
A good remedy for mold - sun rays and drying things in the sun.
Almost any material, be it wood, fabric, carpet, laminate, concrete, brick, can be eaten by mold in as soon as possible Therefore, during construction and renovation, mold prevention measures must be taken into account: use only those materials that are impregnated with special anti-mold compounds.
Sections of the walls in the basement are treated with copper sulfate or a solution of office glue.
Basement walls and damp rooms It is better to treat with lime.
To combat mold in basements, you need to burn sulfur in them (200 grams for every 100 square meters premises).
Furniture, floors, walls of the bathroom, basement affected by mold should be treated with the following composition: dissolve 44 grams of potassium alum, 22 grams of iron sulfate, 18 grams of table salt in 1 liter of water.
Areas of the floor where green mold forms should be sprinkled with table salt.
Books contaminated with mold must be treated with formaldehyde diluted with water. Soak a cotton swab in the solution, squeeze it out, and use a blotting motion to treat the sheets of paper.
In order to keep bread without mold (for example, on a long trip), you need to put a small cotton ball in a small bottle, drop 5-10 drops of pharmaceutical tincture of iodine on it, plug the neck of the bottle with a loose cotton ball and place it in a bag with bread, which is tightly sealed. tie it up, or in the bread bin. The taste of the bread will not be affected, and it will be stored for several days. Iodine vapor prevents mold spores on food from germinating. The same bottle can be placed in the refrigerator.
The refrigerator and bread bin are washed baking soda when black spots appear on their walls. You can then keep the bread box in the sun, wipe the refrigerator with a dry cloth and leave the door open until it dries completely.
Bischofite salt can be used to treat wooden products against mold.
Wood must be impregnated with natural drying oil to prevent mold.
Furniture should not be placed close to the wall, especially in rooms with high humidity.
In winter and summer, there must be sufficient air circulation in the room. You should promptly wipe off condensation from windows when they fog up, and wipe down walls and floors in bathrooms.
Knowing what black and green mold is and how to deal with it, you can protect your home from unaesthetic mold, and yourself and your family members from various diseases that can arise under the influence of mold toxins: bronchitis, allergies, asthma, hepatitis, cancer .
Mold is a very persistent and viable formation. It accompanies us throughout the entire evolutionary period and has made great strides forward in matters of adaptability and survival. She has different shapes, and can become either a small speck on food or a factor leading to the destruction of a home. Mold can cause serious and even fatal illnesses, but at the same time it is a revolutionary medicine - penicillin.
Mold spores surround us everywhere, they are found on food and enter our respiratory tract with the air, as they float in it all the time. There are many types of it, which differ in structure. But mold has only two types of filaments. Some of them contain spores and actively stretch upward, while others are mycelium and penetrate deeply into the products. In this case, the threads can spread over the entire area of the affected product, so it is impossible to get rid of it only by cutting off the visible affected part.
Most often in our life there are 2 types of mold: black, green mold in the house - how to deal with it? I’ll say right away that these species got their name due to the color of their outer part.
Green mold
It is also called trichoderma. It appears on food products and is a close relative of the mold from which penicillin was extracted. This species grows very quickly on the surface of food and also spreads threads throughout its entire depth. If the product is in conditions of high humidity and heat, green mold very quickly covers it all.
If you find contaminated food, you should definitely throw it away, since the threads that formed the mycelium may well be toxic and lead to severe poisoning. After you have removed the green film from the jam, it is still dangerous, because it already contains toxins. If you eat it, you risk serious poisoning.
Black mold
She wears popular name"black beard" and is very common. If you touch her even a little, her spores will immediately scatter around in huge quantity. This property has given this type of mold some negative notoriety, as the spores can lead to watery eyes, choking, bronchitis, nasal congestion, asthma, allergies, and even cancer.
Black mold lives off simple carbohydrates and forms most often in places of high dampness - entrances, bathrooms, basements. Since a person is exposed to regular intoxication, constantly encountering it, such mold is considered extremely toxic.
How to fight mold?
It must be said right away that such a confrontation will be very difficult. Even newest renovation using cutting-edge materials won't help if your home is warm and humid. Spores that land on a damp surface immediately begin to grow deeper into the material, slowly destroying both your home and your health.
Mold loves 95% humidity and a temperature of about 20C most of all. She also likes the absence of drafts and ventilation. So the first thing to do is to take care of good ventilation of the premises and eliminate excess humidity.
The contamination of a home can also be affected by such factors as dirt in the house, because mold spores are often transferred house dust and are just waiting for their time to germinate. Don't keep books wooden products and natural fabrics in rooms with high humidity. Libraries should be provided with good ventilation.
If you have constantly wet walls in your bathroom, water leaks from the tap and condensation collects, then the likelihood of mold growing increases significantly.
Sub-zero temperatures do not lead to the death of spores. They can be destroyed high temperature, such as boiling for two hours. But you can’t boil the walls!
An excellent way to combat mold is the sun's rays, as well as drying things under the sun.
It must be remembered that almost any material can be very quickly destroyed by mold. These include fabrics, wood, laminate, brick, and concrete. So, when doing construction or renovation, you should give preference to those materials that have undergone special anti-mold impregnation.
To treat the walls in the basement you need to use a solution of office glue or copper sulfate. You can also resort to lime or burning sulfur (200g of sulfur is taken per 110 sq.m).
Treat floors, furniture, and bathroom walls with the following composition: per liter of water, take 45 grams of potassium alum, 25 grams of iron sulfate and 20 grams of ordinary table salt.
Those areas of the floor where mold appears can be sprinkled with table salt.
To process books, you can use formaldehyde, diluting it with water. Use a damp swab to treat the paper.
Try to place furniture so that there is a gap between it and the wall.
Wooden products can be protected from damage using Bischofite salt.
Iodine can be used to protect food from mold. Drop it onto a small cotton ball and place it in the bag with the bread. You can also place a bottle of iodine in the refrigerator or bread bin, covering the neck with a loose piece of cotton wool. When an “uninvited guest” appears, the bread bin and refrigerator should be thoroughly washed with baking soda and dried completely.
Knowing how to deal with it, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the pathological effects of the black and green guest.
Ekaterina, www.site