Molds are a type of fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter. There are many strains of molds and some of them may be more harmful than others. Toxic molds such as Penicillium, Stachybotrys, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Black Mold can lead to allergies and sickness which are often a result of airborne mold spores and mycotoxins. These molds and their spores may cause a range of respiratory ailments - stuffy nose, itchy throat, wheezing - to more complicated medical conditions like ear infection, asthma, and bronchitis. The mycotoxins released by thse molds are structurally diverse, common contaminants of the ingredients of animal feed and human food. Many of these toxins are known to have carcinogenic potency too. Many diagnostic and private testing labs offer mold test kits for detection of presence of molds, mold-toxins and their spores on various surfaces and in the household air samples. Mold tests can be divided into two categories: air and surface. It is always advisable to take at least one surface sample and one air sample as single type sampling alone would not accurately portray the extent of mold growth.
DNA & Genetics
DNA & Paternity
