Talk:Mold

This page, Mold, is a general article about mold. As such, the main goal is to answer the question "what is mold?", i.e. the biology of mold. Issues relating to humans are also discussed, but are kept to short summaries. Human related mold issues are discussed in detail in other articles, e.g. Mold health issues, Mold prevention and Mold growth, assessment, and remediation.

This article has previously been nominated to be moved. Please review the prior discussions if you are considering re-nomination. Discussions: No consensus, 28 April 2020, from Mold to Mold (fungus), see discussion.

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This should prbly be a disambiguation page instead

Also its a little short and we should decide on a spelling (not that i can talk!) --Davelane 23:09, 5 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I agree this should be something like an annotated disambiguation page, the problem being that there are thousands of species of mold, so it's almost impossible to generalize about them (imagine saying "breathing a gas confers health benefits"). The definition of mold on this page includes almost all fungi that aren't yeasts, so that could use a tweak too. Where to begin!? ----

Toxic Mold should certainly be merged here, and some of its bits should go to Indoor Air Quality or Growth In Buildings. The Toxic Mold page confounds aerosols/volatile organics with ingested mycotoxins. ----

I deleted "The war on mold in kickapoo is killing children!!!" I don't understand this at all -- if this is relevent can it be explained better --Davelane 01:05, 15 Nov 2004 (UTC)

It seems "The war on mold in kickapoo is killing children!!!" relates to a mold infection at Kickapoo High School according to this article: http://mold-help.org/content/view/245/ This is, however, completely rubbish to put in an encyclopedia. Link to the toxicity of fungae is already included.

Toxic mold deserves its own page. It is specific enough and important enough to justify seperate page. Just make sure the Toxic mold page doesn't repeat the same information as mold page. Repliedthemockturtle 23:10, 14 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Toxic mold does not deserve it's own page. It's just marketing/scare language. Most things are toxic - at the right levels, even oxygen. 65.100.39.186 17:06, 30 August 2007 (UTC) andymccabe(-)netzero.net[reply]

• NO MERGE Toxic mold is a specific but prevalent phenomenon and problem relating to human health. If there were a prepoderous number of incidents of living and work environments contanminated with toxic levels of oxygen, that would deserve an article too. Furthermore, Athlete's Foot and Jock Itch are problems caused by molds too, but it would not make sense to put them on this page. I suggest that title of Toxic Mold be changed to —Preceding unsigned comment added by Repliedthemockturtle (talk • contribs) 03:02, 26 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I Disagree with merge. They are different, just like we have different pages for poison frog and frog. Each article is informative, yet some of the value of the discussion of toxic mold would be lost if the articles were merged, as well as the focus of the mold article becoming more blurry. Don't merge--expand both articles. It's not like we don't have the space. TeamZissou 08:29, 18 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

We need to discuss penecillin here, I think, at least breifly. Or at least link it. Lotusduck 19:20, 13 November 2005 (UTC)lotusduck[reply]

Added a sentence. I get a kick out of those mold photos. FireWorks 00:11, 30 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

penecilin is the one that is good, right??

Penicillin is a medicine that is useful. Not totally sure what it's used for, but it's good. --Jeremy 19:21, 25 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Uhh, it's an antibiotic. It kills bacteria.

This article "does not" belong here ie it's filed under the title "kitchen gadgets" ... I linked to this article expecting to view information concerning "food" molds ... not "bacteria" molds ...

Thanks for your efforts ...

24.108.71.105 (talk) 16:00, 27 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The problem is not with this article but with the link you followed. I've fixed the link at Kitchen gadget to point to Molding (process), which I think is the closest article Wikipedia has to what you're looking for. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 16:59, 27 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Issues regarding Toxic mold, human health are now discussed in Mold health issues. For this reason I moved the EPA and NPIC links to Mold health issues. I also moved health discussion items to Talk:Mold health issues. Repliedthemockturtle 20:17, 4 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

For issues regarding killing of mold, ec, refer to Mold growth, assessment, and remediation. For discussion of these issues go to Talk:Mold growth, assessment, and remediation. Repliedthemockturtle 20:17, 4 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Think back like 10 years ago..please, the name of this game has been haunting me for years! I remember playing it on the Mac but it could have been on the PC too. You could name and choose 4 different characters from a selection of different palettes(man, woman, and I think there were animals too). You were stuck in this dungeon, where you found many things lying around like weapons such as a morning star, throwing knives, swords, potions, spell scrolls. You could even pick up MOLD and eat it to restore your health. You could click on an 'eye' to rest your characters too. Yet there were giant ants, spiders, and plants that would attack you not only as you moved but if you were just waiting in an area. There were also locked doors, a large map, and many other things you could search and throw in your inventory. The game was a DEMO that let you buy the full version too. PLEASE HELP! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jeydo (talk • contribs) 21:53, 8 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

° So, I've always been curious: I know mold probably just doesn't spontaniously come into existence, so how does it suddenly appear and grow, especially in a closed environment like a refrigerator? Are there microscopic spores (fairly ubiquitously) in the air which attach to damp surfaces and begin to grow, or something like that? I was expecting a little background (or at least a link to something) about a "life cycle", but it was only hinted at / implied. I hope someone who knows could put a fuller description.

In reply to above. Yes you are correct, there are masses of fungal spores in the air and you will inhale them frequently.

° I think that there should be more information of the different types of mold, organizing them by appearance (photos, descriptions of colour, what it usually grows on, etc.) and discussing their possible effects on people who are exposed to it. For example something like: "Purple mold which grows on rice can cause difficulty breathing, here is a picture of what it looks like." Surely there is someone out there who knows all about mold ...?

How about mentioning Rye mold, ("Ergot"?), famous as the natural source of LSD? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.175.128.1 (talk) 17:43, 12 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

---

You mention that mold is used in the production of sausages. Yet the sausage article states that it is a bacteria Lactobacillus that gives sausage its flavor, and does not mention mold at all. Can you resolve this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jania100 (talk • contribs) 19:49, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I thought this might have been a mistake, but mold can indeed be used in sausage making — I added a citation to the article. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 15:48, 6 June 2008

There is a great deal of confusion arising from a shorthand notion that spores are the vectors of mycotoxins. Spores are not the only carriers of mycotoxins. But a lot of people refer to spores since it is easier to do so; easier to explain.

Furthermore, some people do develop allergic reactions to spores. Perhaps this should be pointed out. Note that the mycotoxins are the real killers, so it is important to differentiate between these and spores.

So the statement:"The numerous spores released by mold do not themselves cause significant harm in humans" is correct. Some people can develop first level sneezing and allergic reactions.

A previous statement, now edited out, said: "Some molds are particularly serious in this respect, because their spores are important causes of allergies (they are allergens); also, the spores of some fungi like Stachybotrys release potent toxins into the lungs when inhaled; Stachybotrys spores can cause very severe symptoms and lung lesions in children." It is the mycotoxins, not the spores.

Q: what size are spores compared to pollens?

Q: Does mold cause brain damage? I get mixed results when I search at Google.

People are always calling into Car Talk and asking what they can do to remove the moldy smell. They always say that if there's mold (the type that will grow on your auto carpets anyway), you can only really kill it with two things, sunlight (intense and long term) and bleach. While the Toxic mold article mentions some ways of generally killing mold, some of the remedies listed only shrink the colony (like ventilation) and won't actually kill it. So I came to this article to see if what those two lunkheads was true (since there's usually a lot of mold in their heads). O how I'd like a mycologist to come here and add some good stuff to this article! What definitely kills mold?? 82.93.133.130 06:16, 23 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Only extreme heat can kill spores. Not freezing. Not products. I wrote that in, around about Fall 2006, but it is now lost, in summer 2007.

i think that the history of mold should be in this topic.everyone knows what it is and what it does,but no one knows how it came to be. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.82.157.80 (talk) 01:12, 1 February 2007 (UTC).[reply]

that would explain more about mold--- it is a good idea

what do you mean by history? do you mean the evolution of mold? Repliedthemockturtle 20:17, 4 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

At the top of the page it lists three different types of mold ("Molds do not form a specific taxonomic or phylogenetic grouping, but can be found in the divisions Zygomycota, Deuteromycota and Ascomycota."). Is there a way to summarize the differences?

Maddog4 19:29, 21 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"(1) Spores: Both our indoor and outdoor environment have mold spores present. There is no such thing as a mold free environment."

Does the moon count? Is there mold in the far reaches of space? What about volcanoes and nuclear reactors? Hate to be picky, but maybe a qualifier is in order. Here's a suggestion:

"(1) Spores: Both our indoor and outdoor environment have mold spores present. There is no such thing as a mold free environment in Earth's biosphere." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.152.208.1 (talk) 02:14, 27 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Someone's spamming this page.

189.192.127.140 (talk) 05:07, 12 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

---

Someone wrote: "mold is very gross try eating it" -- please correct it, it's not very professional. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.180.126.151 (talk) 23:41, 19 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, that was vandalism ([1]), since repaired. You're welcome to be bold and fix such things yourself. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 05:44, 20 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Whenever we chuck food down the toilet that is mouldy, we have a hard time flushing it because it floats. Is there a scientific explanation for this? 125.236.191.140 (talk) 08:57, 22 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hi there,

Article talk pages are really just for discussion of the article, so I've copied your question to the Science Reference Desk, and provided a (highly speculative) response. Over the next few days, other people might respond as well. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 15:46, 22 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It looks like an unbearable face —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sasuke487 (talk • contribs) 01:10, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This article deals with mold in specific environments and would be best kept separate.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 20:08, 13 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Is 'Mold' the correct US spelling? It is certainly wrong in England. Moreover it creates ambiguities with 'Mold' (which is a town).

If 'Mold' is the only US spelling then I agree we have a problem - but otherwise can it please be moved to "Mould" as I want to be able to recommend Wikipedia to students

(Are there other Wikipedia items which have similar properties?)

Aa42john (talk) 18:01, 1 December 2010 (UTC)::::[reply]

Yes, "mold" is correct US spelling. Please see WP:ENGVAR for Wikipedia's guideline on national varieties of spelling. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 18:33, 1 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Does mo(u)ld have any natural predators? 160.39.56.119 (talk) 00:57, 29 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

At the very least there are mold mites that graze on mold as a cow grazes on grass. They're currently only in this article as a See also dot point, so there's room for expansion. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 02:10, 29 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

With so many different kinds of mold, shouldn't the line: 'Mold has a musty odor.' be 'Most common molds have a musty odor.)? It seems improbable that every mold has a musty odor, but maybe they do! Zipzip50 (talk) 01:27, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Well I know one strain of mold that smells pleasant, like coconuts! I actually doubt that most molds do smell musty - the musty odor is associated with molds that grow in houses, but they're a tiny proportion of all the mold species in the world. I'd suggest just removing that sentence entirely. Any information about musty odor really belongs in Mold growth, assessment, and remediation. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 07:04, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Disagree. Descriptions of characteristics of molds belongs in this article. David Spector (talk) 15:42, 18 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I am removing the gallery of photographs of various different items covered in moulds. The reason for the removal is that Wikipedia is not a repository for images (try Wikimedia Commons for that) and galleries are generally [[ not considered to be a useful addition to a WP page.Jimjamjak (talk) 08:01, 27 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

i think that mould is not that toxic .. you konow we eat it on cheeze right — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.80.102.59 (talk) 19:45, 1 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Mold is not a single species. Some molds are toxic, some are not. Cheese molds are not. David Spector (talk) 15:46, 18 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I've changed this article's importance level to reflect the fact that mold is one of the significant fungi-related topics. If there are any questions about this, feel free to ask. --Sbluen (talk) 01:27, 7 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

In Canada it should be "mould", not "mold", so I made the change to the beginning to the article. Any government of Canada article you see online uses the spelling "mould" so I think it is fair enough that it should be stated that mould is the spelling for UK, NZ, AU, and CA. That, and growing up, it was always "mould." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.215.87.30 (talk) 05:07, 13 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I would go further and say that, since it seems only the US spells mold as 'mold', the article should be entitled 'mould' otherwise it runs the risk of appearing US focused and not globally focused. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:67c:10ec:52ca:8000::997 (talk • contribs)

Thanks for the suggestion, but the practice at Wikipedia is to avoid changing established spellings except in certain circumstances, as described at MOS:RETAIN. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 11:28, 1 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

@24.215.87.30 The guideline says to retain the US only spelling but I think there is an argument that an article that begins with alternate spellings and lists numerous countries that spell it differently to the title warrants an exception. 2001:8003:20AA:1800:501F:70A7:D3A6:67E3 (talk) 11:25, 7 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The current definition is very imprecise and only describes what a lay-person might observe when seeing food beginning to decay. The presence of Hyphae, for example, is a characteristic of all fungi. Whilst this may not be of critical importance here - we can after all have articles about every-day things - it becomes more significant when the term is used elsewhere as in Medicinal molds. In the latter case, this generates a very substantial and very unclear overlap with Medicinal mushrooms. This is a mess that urgently needs resolution. What would be a good start is a clear statement identifying which Phyla are considered to encompass the Molds from which it would be possible to identify all the rest. These won't of course be "Mushrooms" (again a non-taxonomic term) because there will be many ascomycetes and a whole range of fungi not producing classical mushroom or toadstool spore bodies. I haven't the mycological knowledge or skill to sort these out, but I hope that there is an editor out there who can point this article in the right direction.  Velella  ^{Velella Talk}   20:18, 16 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Not all fungi have hyphae – yeasts do not, which is what distinguishes them from molds. I don't think a phylogenetic approach will work as molds, like mushrooms, are a non-taxonomic (polyphyletic) group. But I see you're right about the current definition. I remember hearing that molds were filamentous fungi that lacked macroscopic fruiting bodies, but I don't have a reference for that, and in any case it's clearly an imperfect definition as Aspergillus nidulans, Hypocrea jecorina, and surely many other important molds would fail it. It might be that there is no authoritative definition out there as "mold" is, like "worm", a non-technical word that has been used since human's understanding of biology was rudimentary.

I see what you mean about Medicinal mushrooms and Medicinal molds. Perhaps they should just be merged into a new "Medicinal fungi" article? That would eliminate a lot of overlap, as well as provide a sensible home for the section on yeasts, currently out-of-place in Medicinal molds. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 23:38, 16 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I added what I thought is a good section to the mold article. It was about the use of mold in art. Here is the text of what I added, except I didn't place the "Citation needed" notes: "Various artists have used molds in artistic fashion. Daniele Del Nero creates creepy, decaying architectural models of houses that are mold-covered. Antoine Bridier-Nahmias deliberately grows molds in Petri dishes that grows symmetrically and with somewhat attractive colors, and places photos on the blog Magical Contamination.^{[citation needed]}" However, another user deleted the section, mentioning lack of notability. It may be that the particular artists I mention are not notable, but it seems that the concept of using mold in art is notable and germane to the article, and that mentioning particular artists fleshes out the concept. What does the community think? Should the section be re-instated?69.230.179.59 (talk) 16:49, 10 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

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The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:Mold/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

There should be a section on the three divisions of mold -- summary of the differences in terms of taxonomy, reproduction, etc. Then the specific information (applications and environments) should be moved to the proper division's article. This should be a page for broad statements about mold and the division's articles should be for the specifics. A brief section on common/famous molds containing redirects to the famous mold's article could also come in handy(example penicillin). 199.74.90.145 18:35, 21 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Last edited at 18:35, 21 May 2007 (UTC). Substituted at 00:19, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

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I live in Canada, I spell it as mold, and so does everyone else I know. Maybe people also say mould, but it should be put as both. Alex of Canada (talk) 01:30, 14 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Alex of Canada I fully agree and think the article should be renamed to Mould as it is the most common spelling. The first part of the article even lists anglosphere countries that use the mould spelling and they are both more numerous in numbers and population. 2001:8003:20AA:1800:501F:70A7:D3A6:67E3 (talk) 11:21, 7 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Mold (disambiguation) which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RMCD bot 20:31, 14 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

These are questions that I was hoping I could find answers to on the wiki:
Is mold a living organism?
What is the lifespan or timeframe for a particular molds' existence?
Where does mold come from; how does it originate?
Is mold mutually exclusive to the molecular/cellular structure it forms on or is it always present in some form or another?
--Ball4376 (talk) 18:17, 15 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Mold which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RMCD bot 21:32, 21 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Mold (disambiguation) which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RMCD bot 05:02, 25 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

They do extracellular digestion. 103.80.172.165 (talk) 12:50, 14 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The Food Production section says Neurospora sitophila is used to produce oncom, but the oncom page says it is Neurospora intermedia. The Neurospora sitophila page also does not mention oncom. I think this is a mistake?
— Dazmax (talk) 19:46, 6 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]