Green Mold in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens What toxic mold or other indoor mold looks like and stuff that's not mold but may be mistaken for mold InspectAPedia® -
Photographs of green mold in buildings - how to recognize mold
Photographs of green mold in buildings assist in spotting problem mold growth in attics, basements, and in the living area
Photos of mold of various colors and textures in buildings
Links to photos of stuff that is not mold or is harmless mold
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What does green mold look like on indoor building surfaces? These mold spores and their photographs and examples of materials sometimes mistaken for mold have been collected
in the U.S., Spain, Mexico, France, as well as in other countries where I've studied bioaerosols. These photos of mold on indoor building surfaces may help you recognize
mold in buildings, recognize probably-cosmetic mold, and recognize stuff that is not mold and does not need to be tested.
Photographs to Help Identify Mold in Buildings -
What mold looks like in a home or other buildings
Identification Photographs of Green Mold in Buildings
Among the 1.5 million mold species, there are quite a few that may be found in buildings and that are green or green-gray in color. Three very common indoor mold groups found indoors and that include visible green mold growth are some members of the Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and Trichoderma sp. mold genera.
Green mold can be easily seen on building surfaces but it cannot be reliably identified to genera/species without analysis by a qualified aerobiologist/microscopist in a test lab. See Mold Atlas & Particles List for an atlas of building molds and for more microphotographs of building mold samples observed in our laboratory. See our Atlas of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints for details about specific mold genera/species and their health effects. Also see Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
on indoor building surfaces.
Our photographs which follow show the typical appearance of green and gray-green molds on building surfaces indoors.
This photograph of thick green mold growth appearing on
plywood subflooring over a wet crawl space was taken at a vacation home located at the edge of a lake.
The combination of wet soils,
roof spillage against the foundation, and long periods of inattention subjected this house to water damage and problematic mold growth.
This photograph of thick green mold growth was taken on cardboard boxes and contents stored in a basement closet subjected to not only leaks through a foundation wall but also recurrent basement flooding.
The presence of black mold and white mold on this box suggest that we may have at least three different genera/species of mold growing in this area.
You can also see tan colored mold on the wooden picture frame on which this box sits, and white mold growing on the cigar boxes at the lower right of the photo.
This photograph shows thick green mold growth on furniture, side-lit by our flashlight. the Green mold on furniture in a damp moldy basement, Aspergillus photo shown in thumbnail just below is a larger view of this item.
Our lab examination determined that this mold, which was quite green to the naked eye, also contained Aspergillus niger (a black mold in the microscope).
Interestingly this very moldy furniture had been in this (very wet) location only three weeks according to our client.
Green mold on drywall in a flooded basement, or blue-green mold is shown in this photograph. The mysteriously-sharp line marking the top edge
of this mold growth was very important.
Dissection of the wall showed that a 12-inch strip of drywall had been removed and replaced around the entire room perimeter. The mold growth line marked the cut edge and taped-over repair - and a change in moisture
levels of the materials which slowed mold spread above this point.
A previous owner had repaired previous water and flood
damage in this basement. This is an example of the exception to the general rule that mold growth tends to spread in a non-linear pattern over surfaces.
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