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Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of flexible fibers that are resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make the mineral useful, but they also make asbestos exposure highly toxic.

Asbestos was widely used in construction as an effective insulator, and it can be added to cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials to make them stronger. But when asbestos dust is inhaled or ingested, the fibers can become permanently trapped in the body. Over decades, trapped asbestos fibers can cause inflammation, scarring and eventually genetic damage.

Mold is a living organism that belongs to the kingdom Fungi. Fungi are unique in that although some appear plant-like, they are neither plant nor animal. Mold is heterotrophic, meaning it cannot make its own food like plants do. Mold must gain nutrients from other organic substances. Unlike animals, however, mold does not really 'eat' its food. It must absorb nutrition from other organisms. To do this, mold secretes enzymes that break down the food substance into smaller organic molecules that can then be absorbed. If you've ever grabbed a piece of moldy fruit, you may have felt the soft and mushy area that has essentially been digested. 

Mold is composed of thread-like filaments called hyphae. The hyphae then form a conglomerate, which is called a mycelium. You can think of this as like a grassy lawn. Much like individual blades of grass make up a lawn, many hyphae make up a mycelium. This explains its 'hairy' appearance. 

Although mold itself has no mobility, its hyphae can grow quite long. This is the primary mode used by the mold to spread more quickly to neighboring organisms. When you see a strawberry in a container that has been engulfed by mold, you can observe the hyphae reaching to the adjoining fruits.