Dead Mold

The allergic reactions caused by mold, which some people experience, are due to a coating on the surface of mold spores. The spores are small (often single-celled) reproductive bodies that are capable of growing into mold. When mold is dying, it releases spores as a way to insure its future survival. The spores float through the air to find a new place to land and grow. Even though the mold is dead, the coating on the spores is still an allergen, causing allergic reactions such as irritation of the nose and throat, burning eyes, coughing, sneezing, etc. It is considered good practice to not only kill the mold, but to completely remove it. Removal may be accomplished by scrubbing, vacuuming, and sanding. But for items that are moldy through and through, such as drywall, carpet, and upholstered furniture, disposal is usually recommended

Additional papers by George Hatcher