Mold is a type of fungi that is naturally occurring and can be found in various indoor and outdoor environments year-round. When mold is introduced to an indoor environment, problems may arise affecting building materials and indoor air quality.

If key variables are present, mold can grow on various types of materials, such as dust, food, potted plants, furnishings, wood, paper products, insulation, carpet, and other building materials.

If left unchecked, mold gradually causes building material and structural damage, damage to furnishings, and impacts indoor air quality (IAQ). Please see UVM’s Indoor Air Quality Safety Program for more information in regard to indoor mold growth.

Contact and inhalation of mold can cause various health effects. Health effects, such as allergic reactions can occur and be evident by headaches, irritation to the eyes, throat, and skin, running nose, stuffiness, coughing, or other possible symptoms.

Molds come in many colors including white. "Black mold" and "toxic mold” are not a species or specific kind of mold. These are marketing and news media terms used and can be misleading. All mold under the right conditions have the potential to cause building damage and health effects.

Damp or wet building components and furnishings may release chemicals indoors. Various odors may result if impacted areas remain wet or damp and worsen with time.

Overtime, if building materials remain damp or wet, the structural integrity of such components may become compromised.