What the MOULD in your house means: Graphic breaks down the different colours of fungal growths

It’s something we all dread seeing in our home – mold.

These fungal growths thrive in moist conditions and pop up in numerous places, whether on a wall, a cardboard box, or even in fabric.

While you may not be able to see them at first, spores can show up in a variety of colors, including black, yellow, and sometimes purple.

But what do these all mean?

Based on an article in The conversation by Michael Taylor, an expert from Flinders University, MailOnline has unveiled an image that lays out the horrifying rainbow of mold species and what they mean if you find them in your home.

Black

Toxic black mold is in the spotlight this year after the death of Awaab Ishak.

He was just two years old when he died from prolonged exposure to the fungus, which caused “severe swelling” of his airways and throat.

This type of mold – known as ‘Stachybotrys’ – grows and multiplies on surfaces that have been very wet for a long time, including the walls of houses.

Exposure to these can make you more susceptible to respiratory infections, asthma and in extremely rare cases can even kill you.

According to Shelter, around 40 per cent of rental properties in the UK are susceptible to mold and many complaints have been received following Awaab’s death.

Still, it’s important to note that the slimy black mold you find in your shower may actually be an entirely different type.

Aureobasidium is a yeast-like fungus that can also cause respiratory allergies, but is very unlikely to threaten human life.

“Bleaching will often kill Aureobasidium, but the dark pigmentation is likely to linger – harmless, but stubborn,” Mr. Taylor advised.

Vegetable

Many of us have left it in the fridge a little too long before finding it covered in a greenish fluff.

While you may be tempted to cut off the “bad bits” and continue eating, Mr. Taylor cautions against removing the mold altogether.

“Often we try to convince ourselves that if we just cut off the bad part, we can still manage lunch,” he said.

“Unfortunately, that’s not the case, because the roots of the fungi — collectively called mycelium — spread through the food, digesting and accumulating enough nutrients to pop up a series of tiny fruiting bodies that produce the colored spores you see.” ‘

Among the mycelium group is the ‘Aspergillus’ fungus, which can often thrive in heat and can even be a lover of acid.

These spores can remain airborne for months at a time, with the ability to cause infections in people with weakened immune systems.

Still, Sylvia Anderson, a food hygiene consultant in London, also assures that only some foods can be safe to eat if the dodgy bits are cut off.

Fruit and vegetables are also part of this, in addition to hard cheeses, salami and marmalades.

Trichoderma — Latin for “hairy skin” — is another green mold that Mr. Taylor warns about in the house.

Cardboard and carpets are excellent locations to find this, provided they are dirty and damp.

This mold can be tricky to get rid of, but some disinfectants should kill the spores.

Pink and purple

Occasionally, you might see a pink residue lurking around your bathroom faucets and in the corners of a shower.

This is known as Serratia – a type of mold known to survive in liquid soap and hand washing, according to Mr Taylor.

In the worst case, these spores can cause a variety of infections, including Serratia sepsis, which can manifest as a fever with chills.

But regularly scrubbing the surfaces with disinfectant and bleach is a commonly recommended way to control mold.

On the other hand, purple mold – often called Fusarium – is much less common in the home.

But sometimes the species can turn rice purple or appear in cement that has been wet for a while.

“Fusarium makes large, sticky, moon-shaped spores that have evolved to spread through rain splashes and hang from plants,” Taylor said.

“However, it is quite bad at getting airborne and therefore doesn’t spread very far from where it grows.”

Yellow and orange

Stemphylium and Epicoccum are two yellow and orange molds that are also found in the home.

According to Mr. Taylor, these types generally bond with natural fibers such as hemp and jute, the latter often being used to make woven-style furniture.

Hessian is another material it thrives on as long as the fungi receive enough ultraviolet (UV) to generate spores.

Mr Taylor explained: ‘We often think of fungi as organisms that thrive in the dark, but that’s not always true. Some even require exposure to light – especially ultraviolet (UV) light – to complete their life cycle.

“Many plant pathogens use UV light exposure as a trigger to produce their spores and then protect their DNA by hiding it behind melanin-containing sheaths.”

Outside in the garden, you may also find the yellow traces of ‘grass rust’ on the leaves of plants.

But this can be easily remedied by repotting what you are growing, according to Evergreen Seeds.

Blue

Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Dolcelatte are some of the cheeses you might consider when you think of blue mold.

Penicillium is the fungus to thank for that – and that’s also the genus responsible for the antibiotic penicillin.

This mold is edible because the acidity, salt content and temperature in cheese prevent toxins from growing.

But Mr. Taylor claims that the same molds also cause food to rot in our cupboards and even in the soil.

White

While there are numerous types of white mold, Cladosporium is one of the most common in the home.

Like Aspergillus, this type can also be airborne and is usually found in damp areas such as basements, bathrooms or attics.

According to Healthlineit can also pop up on carpets, vents, and even paper, provided the conditions are right.

Most forms of Cladosporium are not dangerous to humans, but the fungi can make asthma and allergies worse.

In the garden, Mr. Taylor claims, you can also find another white fungus known as Isaria farinosa.

This coral-like species is a parasite of moths and crickets that have often been used in pest control products.

Mr Taylor concluded: ‘So when you notice the world changing colors around you, you can marvel with your new knowledge at the microscopic marvels living complex lives alongside your own.

“Then maybe clean up, and wash the fruit bowl.”