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WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD IN HOMES
USING LIGHT TO FIND MOLD
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE
STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
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  Allergens:
  How to Look For Mold
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Photographs of toxic black Stachybotrys chartarum mold collected from drywall in a moldy home

Mold spores under the Microscope - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of toxic or other mold
MoldAPedia ^©

Microscopic mold - what mold looks like up-close

Micro photographs of mold through the microscope

Links to photos of stuff that is mold and other stuff that is not mold

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What does mold look like? These mold spores and their photographs (both on site and under the microscope) have been collected in the U.S., Spain, Mexico, France, as well as in other countries where I've studied bioaerosols. These are aerobiology laboratory photos of mold under the microscope. The photo at page top shows Stachybotrys chartarum mold spores under the microscope, and next to them is a photo of the Stachybotrys spore-producing structure or conidiophore. Other photographs and articles at this website will help you find and recognize problematic toxic or allerginc mold in buildings. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

MOLD BY MICROSCOPE - What mold looks like under the light microscope

Mold spore photographs are arranged alphabetically here. For example, if you are looking for what Stachybotrys chartarum looks like under the microscope, just scroll down.

Alternaria mold spores are very common in outdoor air and are likely to be found in outdoor air samples and are often found in indoor air samples as well.

Aspergillus, Aspergillus niger culture, Penicillium culture, Penicillium spores - Aspergillus and Penicillium spores are difficult to differentiate when they are found in air that you may see them reported in test results as "Pen/Asp". Some airborne spores in this group can be identified from the spore alone, however, such as Aspergillus niger

Cladosporium sp. are the most common mold spore found in outdoor air in many areas, so common in fact that Cladosporium is called "the king of molds".

Curvularia may not be looking their best in this field photo but this is what you're likely to see at the microscope.

Ganoderma basidiospores such as G. applanatum & G. tsuge dominated the air at a recent fungal spore study workshop sponsored by the University of Montreal. Here is where they were coming from.

Stachybotrys sp.: on a wall, Stachybotrys structure, Stachybotrys spores (with basidiospores (?)), Stachybotrys culture has been identified (and then later questioned) as a cause of and pulmonary hemorrhage and hemosiderosis in infants. (http://gcrc.meds.cwru.edu/stachy/default.htm) While this mold has received recent media attention, many molds occur naturally outdoors and indoors. Some other more common mold spores such as Penicillium and Aspergillus (see above) may cause illness or may be associated or aggravate with some types of asthma. Stachybotrys mold, in another form, Memnoniella echinata we've found to be particularly reactive even in small quantities. When found on building surfaces it should be removed.

Ulocladium chartarum spores

We have almost 900,000 photomicrographs of mold spores and pollen grains - more are coming to this website. If you need to see a specific image, contact us.

Contents

Mold spores commonly found in or around the home environment Ulocladium Stachybotrys Cladosporium microscope microscopy sick house IAQ indoor air quality mold mildew pollen Stachybotrys New York NY slide preparation gelvatol pollen in the Hudson Valley ASHI

More Information on Finding and Identifying Mold in Buildings and Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
How to Look For Mold, List of Articles: Hiring a Mold or IAQ Consultant, Getting a Remediation Plan
Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
Stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Also, not all "black mold" is toxic - here are examples of harmless black mold.
Allergens: what they look like in buildings
Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
Mold Investigation Tips for Home Inspectors how to find mold, where to look, what is likely to be important. Advice to building inspectors intending to inspect or test for toxic or problematic mold indoors, mold inspection methods, and mold test methods which are valid or invalid
Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab
Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
Mold Central: indoor air quality investigation case histories, key links what to do about mold and indoor allergens - our Fear of Mold "Mycophobia" WebLog-Blog.
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
Frequently Asked Questions About Mold -- check this FAQ list & IAQ Site Map to see if you can find a quick answer to your mold concern

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

GO TO MOLD TEST KITS: This expert-recommended mold test kit is cheap and yet top performing *IF* you use a competent analysis laboratory! Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

GO TO IAQ/MOLD-TEST LAB SERVICES: Mold, Pollen, indoor air quality, field and laboratory services by an expert. Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

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Mold spores under the Microscope - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of toxic or other mold MoldAPedia ©

MOLD BY MICROSCOPE - What mold looks like under the light microscope

Mold spores commonly found in or around the home environment Ulocladium Stachybotrys Cladosporium microscope microscopy sick house IAQ indoor air quality mold mildew pollen Stachybotrys New York NY slide preparation gelvatol pollen in the Hudson Valley ASHI

More Information on Finding and Identifying Mold in Buildings and Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

InspectAPedia ^TM

Mold spores under the Microscope - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of toxic or other mold
MoldAPedia ^©