Mold: what is, what happens and why does it appear

Damage to health

As we stated above, mold is a special type of fungus. For the first time in the world, pundits in Poland led a study, thanks to which they proved that mold (not herself, but her spores) causes such an intense blood disease as leukemia. It was also found that peanuts affected by mold have such a strong concentration of toxic substances that they can cause cancer. Residents of the city spend most of their time in residential premises, and, basically, these are closed premises (it will be an apartment or an office). In other words, we choke only for those with the air that is in the room. Niches of the lungs are very good at filtering out many microbes, but mold spores have their own characteristic - they deeply settle in the lungs and even penetrate into the lung tissue itself. It was also found that in the place of residence of allergy sufferers and asthmatics in 80% of cases out of 100% there was mold. There are even similar types of mold, the spores of which can be the basis of diathesis in children, an allergic reaction (which, over a certain period of time, if not taken measures, can develop into asthma).

What is a fungus

The words "fungus" and "mold" refer to a large group of microscopic organisms. According to the classification, they belong to the kingdom of the Mushrooms. Their bodies are composed of mycelium (long filaments with a single layer of epithelium), on which fruiting bodies (spherical heads in which spores mature) are formed. Externally, colonies of an overgrown fungus look like black, white or colored spots of different sizes and shapes. Molds spread and multiply exclusively in warm and humid conditions. The optimum level of environmental humidity for them is 70-75%, and the temperature is from 25 to 30 degrees.

To date, scientists have discovered more than 100 thousand species of these microorganisms, and this list continues to grow. Some of them can be beneficial to humans, for example, they can be used to obtain citric acid, penicillin, cheese. But the fungus that appears on the wall of the bathroom or living room is definitely dangerous to health.

Types of mold

In taxonomy, microscopic fungi are divided into several classes: Chytridiomycetes, Oomycetes, Ascomycetes, Zygomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes. There is also a common division into color groups. According to this classification, mold is divided into:

• Black

• Yellow

• White

• Blue

• Green

• Pink

Black

This group includes a large number of species: Ulocladium, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Phoma, Wallemia. A common feature for them is the formation of black colonies. The shade of the spots may differ depending on the type of fungus, its stage of development and the quality of the base on which the colony grew. Black mold can develop on food, concrete, paper, metal, wood, and in some cases even on a person's skin and respiratory tract.

Yellow

Aspergillus is a typical representative of this species. Colonies of yellow shades can appear on food products that become dangerous to humans, as well as in damp basements, dishwashers and washing machines. Aflatoxins, which secrete yellow fungi, are practically not excreted from the body, causing severe poisoning at high concentrations.

White

This variety is found on food, land, wood. White fungus rarely appears on the walls in an apartment. Compared to the previous variety, it poses a much less threat to human well-being. In some cases, white fungus is sometimes confused with efflorescence. To distinguish them, you need to knead a piece in your hands.If it is soft and wrinkled, it is mold, if it crumbles, it is salt.

Blue

This type of mold is called blue fungus. A microorganism develops on wooden substrates, causing their destruction. Even penetrating deep into the wood through the lacquer coating, blue mold opens up access to the material for water and other types of microbes.

Green

Mold on the wall of greenish tints appears inside and on the surface of food, on soil, building materials. Wooden floors and walls are especially susceptible to it. This group of microscopic fungi destroys the substrate on which it settles, and when contaminated food enters the food, it causes discomfort.

Pink

A combined group of about 70 species. The pink pathogen is less toxic than other varieties. Fungal colonies of pink color often appear on fruits, vegetables, cereals, making them unusable. Sometimes they can also be seen inside the house.

Reasons for the appearance

Why is there, for example, yellow mold or even orange mold growing in the house? Typically, this is facilitated by several key factors:

• spores of flour or other fungus penetrate the room through the air, settling on a variety of surfaces;
• the presence of organic matter in the house - paper, houseplants, wood, concrete, stone, etc.;
• high temperature (from +20 degrees) and constant humidity;
• the heating system distributes heat unevenly in the room;
• lack of ventilation.

All this together leads to the formation of mold spores in the cellar, basement or directly in your home. Whatever type of fungus threatens your home (for example, brown mold), be prepared for the fact that you will have to apply complex measures, different in degree of impact

In addition, persistence and careful conduct of each procedure is important. Thus, you will get rid of the poisonous spores of microscopic fungi without serious consequences for your health.

What are mushrooms?

This kingdom has a complex classification. Most people understand by mushrooms only one of their species, the main one is the cap. It includes both edible and poisonous options - champignons, truffles, boletus mushrooms, chanterelles, fly agarics, toadstools and many others.

Another, even more interesting species, are molds. They differ in microscopic size, due to which the fruiting bodies and mycelium are almost impossible to notice with the naked eye. But in general, it is not at all difficult to see them - it is enough to leave a piece of bread in a damp place, and soon the familiar fluffy bloom will appear on it. These are molds, namely saprophytes, an inedible species that often spreads over fruits, vegetables, soil and walls of damp, dark rooms.

The third type is yeast. They have been known to man for a long time and are as common as molds. For example, it is to them that people owe the existence of bread, beer, wine and kvass. Molds and yeasts reproduce equally well in the everyday environment for humans, but, unlike the former, which prefer dampness and twilight, the latter need sugar. But there is one thing in common - yeast is also impossible to see in detail without a microscope. To date, man knows 1,500 of their varieties.

How do mushrooms enter the body?

Among the main sources of infection through which the fungus can enter the human body, one can single out spoiled food, stale water. So, if there is mold on any fruit, it is no longer possible to eat it! And even if one of the fruits lying together has mold, the risk that all the others have it is very high.

Our body has a good defense mechanism against food contamination. It is realized through gastric juice. In theory, the concentration of gastric juice in a healthy body is sufficient to prevent mold from entering the gastrointestinal tract.But, unfortunately, the state of the gastrointestinal tract of a modern person is far from ideal ...

Separately, you need to highlight the Candida fungus. Normally, it lives in the colon of every person and participates in various internal processes: in particular, it destroys the remnants of undigested nutrients and removes toxins as a result of metabolic processes. In addition, it forces the immune system to be on the alert at all times, that is, it helps to maintain the body's natural defenses. But this fungus plays a positive role only as long as a healthy balance of microflora is maintained in the intestines. If it is violated, this fungus spreads in the body excessively, begins to release toxins that cause various diseases.

Why is the balance in the human intestine disturbed? The main factor is unhealthy diet, that is, the lack of a sufficient amount of fiber and B vitamins; as well as an abundance of sugar, which is a breeding ground for yeast, various carbohydrates: bread, pasta, yoghurts with additives, sweet non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, confectionery.

Also, the cause of imbalance in the intestines is chronic stress and hormones produced in connection with it. For example, cortisol raises blood sugar levels, which in turn promotes the spread of the fungus.

Mold can invade the body and through the skin. For this, of course, certain conditions are necessary: ​​high humidity, hot temperatures, as well as the presence of organic residues (dirt or grease), which serve as food for mold, especially simplify the matter. And, of course, direct contact with the source of infection is necessary.

It is especially easy to get infected with a fungal infection through contact with a sick person, through shoes and personal hygiene items, in public baths, saunas, with microtraumas of the skin of various parts of the body. Microtrauma - scratches, diaper rash, damage to the skin - disrupt the natural protective function of the skin, allowing the fungus to penetrate into the body and settle in it.

Also, the fungus can be transmitted from mother to fetus through amniotic fluid. A baby infected this way may be born with, for example, allergies or candidiasis

Therefore, it is especially important for the expectant mother to carry out antifungal measures in order to prevent this.

A common reason for the multiplication of fungi in the body is antibacterial therapy: antibiotics not only destroy pathogenic bacteria, but also accelerate the development of the fungus. The risk of fungal infection increases with age, as well as with weakened immunity.

Other factors that favor the growth of fungi:

• birth control pills;
• steroids (prednisone, cortisone);
• hormone replacement therapy;
• chemotherapy and radiation therapy;
• stimulants (alcohol, cigarettes);
• heavy metal poisoning;
• some diagnostic procedures and renal dialysis.

Mold types: black, white, blue, gray, green

In mycology, the science that studies fungi, molds have a special place in the classification. There are several divisions of these microorganisms. Unscientific mold is classified by color:

• Black mold. Most noticeable, it looks like small black spots. Most often it can be found on walls near windows and balconies. This is not one type of mushroom, but several different ones. Spores of some species, entering the body, cause an allergic reaction and indigestion. Other species are practically harmless to residents of houses and apartments. In addition to the walls, black mold also settles on food in the form of a dark coating. If you see such mold in your home - do not panic, this does not always mean that something is threatening your health.

• Green mold. A frequent visitor on the surface of stones, on bakery and dairy products, on various surfaces.If you accidentally eat a product with this mold, then most likely it will simply be digested by gastric juice and nothing bad will happen. However, in people with weakened immune systems, the spores of these fungi can cause severe illness.

• White mold. In addition to walls and food, porcini fungi can also be found in flower pots. Most often they look like cotton wool. If you accidentally eat food with this white bloom, then you can face unpleasant consequences in the form of allergic reactions, upset gastrointestinal tract, headaches.

• Blue mold. Less common than other molds. It is harmless to humans, moreover, it is used for the production of some cheeses. But if you saw such mold on food, although it was not there before, you still should not eat it in any case, since not such harmless types of mushrooms may be hiding there.

• Gray mold. A species of mold fungi that is dangerous to humans. It can settle, grow and multiply on any surfaces and food. Plants are also often affected. Removing this mold is very problematic.

Invincible mold

One of the main and most dangerous properties of mold is its ubiquity. Microscopic fungi are able to survive, without exaggeration, in any conditions. They feel great among the Arctic ice, on the radioactive sarcophagus of the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and even in outer space.
So, as part of the Biorisk experiment, which was aimed at studying the effect of outer space conditions on living organisms, three capsules with mold spores Penicillum, Aspergilus and Cladosporium were taken into open space and attached to the casing of the orbital station. The results were simply stunning, mold spores not only survived after six months in outer space, but also mutated, becoming more aggressive and resistant.
And this is not a record yet. The researchers placed molds from the genus Aspergilus Fumigatus in a test tube containing a powerful anti-fungal drug. Part of the colony withstood the blow. And this is despite the fact that the chance of surviving mold under these conditions was exactly the same as that of a person placed in concentrated sulfuric acid.
Terrestrial microorganisms in space under the influence of radiation mutate and become more aggressive. Thank God, they have not yet attacked people, but they use plastic with great pleasure.
At the end of the operation of the Mir station, completely insane rumors began to circulate around it about mutant mushrooms that had devoured almost half of the equipment. This did not come to this, but the problem was obvious: for example, the control unit of the switching device failed due to the active growth of mold fungi on insulating tubes, terminal blocks, on reinforced polyurethane, accompanied by oxidation of copper wires in places of insulation damage. And on one of the "Soyuz", which had spent more than six months in orbit docked to the station, a deterioration in visibility through the window was recorded due to the fact that a colony of fungi was successfully multiplying on it.
So, starting the search for how to remove the mold, I came across a huge amount of interesting information, unfortunately (or fortunately) the Chips format does not allow sharing even a fraction of what impressed me.
Now I am worried about the process of cleaning the mold in the suburban basement. I am thinking of putting on a respirator, goggles, gloves, wet the sponge in some kind of anti-mold solution and holding my breath) I will try to remove it.
What would you do? Options to burn down the house or entrust this business to a homeless person are excluded.

Mold damage

Despite the benefits, molds can be very harmful. Representatives of the Aspergill family are considered the most dangerous. They are capable of infecting humans and animals. The most common are skin lesions, external ear infections, and allergic reactions.A serious illness called mycetoma also provokes this kind of mold.

The genus Botrytis can be safely called a garden pest.

Representatives of this genus cause a large number of fungal diseases in such plants:

• strawberries;
• grape;
• onion;
• some root vegetables;
• citrus;
• nightshade;
• beans;
• linen;
• salad;
• peas.

Botrytis provokes allergies in humans. Sometimes fungal spores cause lung disease in people who are prone to respiratory disease.

Pay attention! Even the noble family Penicillus, saving millions of people and animals, can harm a person.

What is YEAST

Here I would like to reiterate the complex taxonomy of mushrooms. Yeast includes unicellular fungi that have lost their mycelial (filamentous) structure due to the transition to living in liquid and semi-liquid environments rich in organic substances. the group unites about 1500 species belonging to the departments of ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. Those. yeast are the closest relatives, on the one hand, of butter and porcini mushrooms, and on the other hand, truffles, stitches and morels.

Yeast habitats are related to their diet - they prefer sugar-rich environments, fermenting sugars to alcohols. The use of yeast is related to this feature. Traditionally, yeast is used in bakery, winemaking, and brewing. Some yeast species are facultative and conditional pathogens, causing disease in people with weakened immune systems.

The genus Malassezia includes obligate symbionts of warm-blooded animals and humans, which are not found anywhere except for their skin. In case of impaired immunity, they cause pityriasis (versicolor), folliculitis and seborrheic dermatitis.

Another member of this group is Cryptococcus neoformans. It causes the disease cryptococcosis, which is especially dangerous for HIV-infected people. This yeast is most commonly found in bird droppings. At the same time, the birds themselves do not get sick with cryptococcosis.

Yeasts of the genus Candida are components of normal human microflora, however, with a general weakening of the body by injuries, burns, surgery, prolonged use of antibiotics, in early childhood and old age, etc., fungi of the genus Candida can develop en masse, causing the disease - candidiasis. Under normal conditions in the human body, yeast of the genus Candida is limited in its development by the natural bacterial microflora of humans (lactobacilli, etc.), but with the development of a pathological process, many of them form highly pathogenic communities with bacteria. Fungi of the genus Candida can cause from local damage to the mucous membranes and skin to life-threatening disseminated infectious processes with extensive damage to internal organs and systems.

Mold and food

More often than not, people encounter mold in stores and at home when it gets to bread, fruits and vegetables. Such products cannot be eaten, because the fungus releases toxins, soaking its "home" entirely. Therefore, it is not enough to peel off the multi-colored fringe; the contaminated food should simply be thrown away.

The fungus does far more harm to agricultural workers. He eats about a quarter of all grain reserves annually. For the same reason, most coffee beans are roasted immediately in Brazil. Otherwise, one infected grain is enough to kill the entire crop. But mold is not only a pest. It has been used in cooking for centuries:

1. Botrytis cinerea is used for the production of elite dessert wines, in particular sherry. It is not a yeast, but a gray mold, whose toxins increase the sugar content of berries.
2. Penicillium is the famous blue mold on the famous cheeses of Roquefort, Camembert, Brie and others. It is called “noble” because it does not emit a dispute, which is why it is suitable for consumption.
3. Aspergillus niger is the most dangerous black mold for humans (the famous “curse of Tutankhamun”). But when fed with sugar, it produces citric acid. Another variety of this fungus is used to make soy sauce.
4. Other yeast fungi are used in the baking of baked goods and sausages, alcohol, sauerkraut and cabbage. They differ from ordinary mold in that they do not form mycelium and reproduce not by spores, but by division.

Mold also helps fight dirt after a heavy meal. Colored granules in washing powders are enzymes produced by fungi that prefer to live in places rich in soda.

Types of molds

Today, science knows about 300 species, among which three genera are best studied and are of the greatest interest for science and human economic activity:

• yeast;
• mucor;
• aspergil;
• penicillin.

Yeast

Yeast consists of a single ball-shaped cell. Most of these microscopic fungi have lost the ability to form mycelium. This may be due to their life and reproduction in sugar-laden nutrient fluids.

The usual size of yeast cells is 3-7 microns in diameter. The reproduction method inherent in this species is budding. Initially, a small bulge appears on one of the mature cells. Then it increases in size until it turns into an independent cell, which will subsequently separate from the mother. The cells that bud are like chains.

The areas of use of this type of mushroom are wide and varied:

1. They are easy to grow and very unpretentious: they can even be grown on agricultural waste. The cultured yeast enriches animal feed and human food.
2. They are essential for research in molecular biology and biochemistry.
3. They are used in cooking, especially for making homemade starter cultures for baking.

Mukor

Mushrooms of the Mukor genus grow in gray colonies in the upper layers of the soil, often found on vegetables, fruits and other foods. They grow rapidly, reaching a height of several centimeters. In their mycelium there are no intercellular septa, and it consists of a branched cell with a large number of nuclei.

It can reproduce by spores or sexually. Individual filaments of the mycelium rise and become wide at the ends: in such extensions, spores form. After maturation, the spores burst and are carried by the wind.

Aspergill

A distinctive feature of Aspergillus colonies is the formation of flat, fluffy colonies. At the beginning of their growth, they are white, but as they develop, they form many spores and are painted in a variety of colors. The mycelium of such mold has intercellular septa. Many species are required for the synthesis of citric acid.

Aspergillus reproduces by spores that form asexually. This type of mushroom is extremely resistant to environmental influences. Most often found on walls in damp rooms. Some representatives of this species are dangerous to people, animals and plants. They:

• affect various organ systems;
• cause allergies;
• lead to diseases of crops.

Remember! It is highly undesirable for people with weakened immunity to interact with the fungus: in some cases, even lethal outcome is possible.

Penicillium

Penicillus is commonly found on food and soil. Its mycelium is a branching filaments that divide into cells using partitions. Spores can be found in small brushes at the ends of the hyphae. A feature of penicill cells is the ability to form penicillin.

This is a substance that interferes with the synthesis of bacterial membranes and leads to the death of the latter. It is one of the most famous and effective antibiotics, the discovery of which was a real breakthrough in medicine.Penicilli is bred specifically for use in pharmacology for the creation of many medicines.

Mold: what is it, why does it appear?

Mold is a fungus. The spores of these microorganisms are almost everywhere: they are in the air, settle on clothes, any surfaces, as well as food. And if such disputes find themselves in favorable conditions, then they will begin to multiply and develop new territories. Mold can settle on almost any surface, including wood, concrete, brick, and other building and finishing materials. It is not uncommon for fungi to enter food and multiply there. Mold has two strands. One of them penetrates into the substance and begins to form mycelium (vegetative body), the other goes up and contains the resulting spores.

There are many varieties of this fungus.

The types of mold are quite numerous, but the reasons for the appearance of fungi are the same:

• Lack of ventilation. If there is a lack of fresh air, then the fungi will quickly take root and begin to multiply. That is why they most often live in poorly ventilated areas, for example, in bathrooms or cellars.
• High humidity. This condition is ideal for the growth of fungi. And if the humidity rises to 90-95%, then the mold immediately begins to develop. In a damp room, condensation forms on surfaces, which provokes the formation of mold.
• Temperature drops. They lead to the formation of condensation.
• Poor sealing. In this case, moisture penetrates the room (or food packaging, for example).