• Too much mold in homes and schools is common. Mold grows in moist, dark, humid areas that may have water coming in from leaking roofs, pipes, etc.
• Mold exposure is associated with health problems, such as allergic symptoms.
• Testing for mold in a home or school is usually not necessary.
• Large amounts of mold damage should be cleaned and repaired by professionals wearing appropriate personal safety gear and sealing the area.

Molds are fungi, such as mildew, yeasts, and mushrooms, that are present everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. No one knows for sure how many species of fungi exist, but they are in the thousands. Molds commonly found in homes include Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Stachybotrys and many others. Homes built close to bodies of water like ponds, lakes or rivers, and homes built in wooded areas are likely to have a large variety of molds growing outdoors. Outdoor molds are carried indoors by wind, the fur of pets, or clothing.