Mold Inspection

rhizomorphs

A dense mass of hyphae forming a root-like structure characteristic of many fungi.

significantly high

A level of mold growth that is 10 times higher in a suspect area compared to a non-suspect area, based on the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO) standards for air sampling.

mold remediator

A person who is responsible for removing mold from contaminated environments.

conidiophores

A specialized fungal hypha that produces conidia.

allergen

A substance that elicits an IgE antibody response and is responsible for producing allergic reactions. Chemicals are released when IgE on certain cells come into contact with an allergen. These chemicals can cause injury to surrounding tissue - the visible signs of an allergy. Only a few fungal allergens have been characterized, but all fungi are thought to be potentially allergenic.

substrate

A surface on which an organism grows or is attached.

grout

A thin mortar used to fill cracks and crevices in masonry or a thin plaster for finishing walls and ceilings.

microbe

A very tiny form of life -- microbes include bacteria, fungi, and protozoan parasites -- best visualized under a microscope.

mold inspection report

A written evaluation prepared and issued by a residential mold inspector upon completion of a mold inspection.

HEPA filter

Acronym for High Efficiency Particulate Air filter. A HEPA filter is an air filter that removes more than 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger, which often includes harmful bacteria and other microbial particles from the air, at a specified flow rate of air.

dry rot

An event that could cause severe damage to a home due to moisture being transferred by vine-like branches called rhizomorphs even before the house is infested.

hyphae

Any of the threadlike filaments forming the mycelium of a fungus.

biocide/fungicide

Chemicals that limit the growth of or kill microorganisms such as fungi.

mycotoxins

Compounds produced by some fungi that are toxic to humans or animals. By convention, the term "mycotoxin" excludes mushroom toxins. Fungi that produce mycotoxins are called "toxigenic fungi."

fungi

Fungi are neither animals nor plants but are classified in a kingdom of their own: the Kingdom of Fungi. Fungi include a very large group of organisms, including molds, yeasts, mushrooms and puffballs. There are >100,000 accepted fungal species, but current estimates range to 1.5 million species. Mycologists (people who study fungi) have grouped fungi into four large groups according to their method of reproduction.

Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds

Fungi produce chemicals as a result of their metabolism and some of these chemicals, MVOCs, are responsible for the characteristic moldy, musty, or earthy smell of fungi, both of mushrooms and molds. Some MVOCs are considered offensive or annoying. Specific MVOCs are thought to be characteristic of wood rot and mold growth on building materials. The human nose is very sensitive to mold odors; sometimes more so than current analytical instruments.

toxigenic fungi

Fungi that can produce mycotoxins (see toxic mold).

spore

General term for a reproductive structure in fungi, bacteria, and some plants. In fungi, the spore is the structure which may be used for dissemination and may be resistant to adverse environmental conditions.

infestation

Inhabited or overrun in numbers or quantities large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious.

hygrometer

Measuring instrument for measuring relative humidity.

mold

Molds are a group of organisms that belong to the Kingdom of Fungi (see Fungi). Even though the terms mold and fungi are commonly used interchangeably, all molds are fungi, but not all fungi are molds.

fruiting bodies

Mushroom-like growths on rotten wood on the underside of flooring or a cabinet. Fruiting bodies are flat, up to a half-inch thick, and are a pale olive, gray, brown, or black color

mold inspection

Official examination of a property to determine the degree of severity of mold levels inside the home.

mold inspector

Person who conducts mold inspections

remediate

Put simply, to fix a problem. Related to mold contamination, remediation includes fixing the water/moisture problem, and the cleaning, removal and/or replacement of damaged or contaminated materials.

bulk sample

Samples of the material affected by microbial growth submitted to a lab for analysis. This may include a piece of fabric, a section of carpet, or building material.

allergic symptoms

Signs of an allergic reaction to mold (e.g., nasal and sinus congestion, coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing, skin and/or eye irritation, sinus infections, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, or nosebleeds).

bacteria

Single-celled organisms that lack chlorophyll and reproduce by fission.

stachybotrys

Stachybotrys (pronounced Stack-ee-BOT-ris) is a genus of molds, or asexually-reproducing, filamentous fungi. Stachybotrys chartarum (pronounced Shar-TAR-um) is the most common species. Stachybotrys can be found both in nature and indoors. In the indoor environment, it commonly inhabits materials rich in cellulose, such as wood, drywall, paper, canvas and jute. Stachybotrys requires constant moisture (water activity >0.98) to grow, and is capable of producing mycotoxins.

tape lift

Tape lift sampling is used to gather visible mold present on a surface for lab analysis. It is done using a few inches of clear tape lightly adhered to the affected surface. The tape is then carefully peeled off and placed into a plastic bag. Tape lift samples can be collected from walls, furniture, or any other surface where mold is present.

colonization

The act or process of establishing a colony or colonies. Usually refers to fungal mycelium growth.

humidity

The amount of water vapor present in the air.

microbiology

The branch of biology that deals with microorganisms and their effects on other living organisms.

air sampling

The collection of air-borne microbial contaminants that may impact product spoilage, product safety, and human health.

condensation

The collection of moisture due to differences in temperature that results in gases changing to liquid.

microbial growth

The organic material found during an inspection that is thought to be mold or fungus and may require laboratory analysis.

black mold

The poorly defined term "black mold" or "toxic black mold" has usually been associated with the mold Stachybotrys chartarum. While there are only a few molds that are truly black, there are many that can appear black. Not all mold that appears to be black is Stachybotrys.

toxic mold

The term "toxic mold" has no scientific meaning since the mold itself is not toxic; rather, the metabolic byproducts of some molds may be toxic (see mycotoxin).

mycelium

The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, threadlike hyphae.

hidden mold

This refers to visible mold growth on building structures that is not easily seen, including the areas above drop ceilings, within a wall cavity (the space between the inner and outer structure of a wall), inside air handlers, or within the ducting of a heating/ventilation system.