What is “black mold” or “toxic mold”?
There are a number of mold types/genera that are either black or gray in color or produce black pigments on the substrate that they are growing on. These include Cladosporium, Pithomyces, Stemphydium, Ulocladium, Aureobasidium, Alternaria, Memmoniella, and Stachybotrys. Stachybotrys and Memnoniella are the only black mold types that are known to produce mycotoxins, which produce a potential exposure hazard when infested materials are disturbed. Stachybotrys and Memnoniella infestations typically only occur on repeatedly wetted materials that contain cellulose. These include the paper on gypsumboard, cardboard, ceiling tile, cellulose insulation, wood, etc. If the black mold is growing on materials that do not contain cellulose, it is unlikely that either Stachybotrys or Memnoniella are present. As the question suggests, “black mold” growths are common in houses particularly in bathrooms and some materials in basements. The black mold that you may see growing on shower walls, and grouti
You have probably heard a great deal about black mold or toxic mold. It is usually associated with Stachybotrys, a black mold that is often found after there has been persistent water damage. The known health effects from exposure to Stachybotrys are similar to other common molds and may cause illness in individuals with a sensitivity to “mycotoxins” (chemicals produced by certain molds), to people who are immunocompromised, or to individuals who have become sensitive after prolonged exposure. In fact, many molds are black and it is the amount of mold and level of exposure that are necessary pieces of information to discover.
