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Protect Your Home and Family From Dangerous Mold and Mildew

With more than 100,000 species worldwide, roughly a thousand of which are native to the United States, molds are literally everywhere on the planet. In nature, mold can be healthy—but in our homes, it can trigger dangerous asthma and allergies.

Credit: EPA.gov

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Courtesy of ThisOldHouse.com

With more than 100,000 species worldwide, roughly a thousand of which are native to the United States, molds are literally everywhere on the planet, including Antarctica. In nature, these fungi serve as a catalyst—speeding decomposition and ridding the planet of megatons of dead plant matter. And some varieties even have a time-honored place within our homes. After all, you owe the penicillin in your medicine cabinet to a mold called Penicillium chrysogenum, part of the same genus as Penicillium roqueforti, the mold you can thank for that delightful Roquefort cheese stinking up your fridge.

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