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BLACK TOXIC MOLD
 IS
ALL
BLACK
MOLD TOXIC?
"Black Mold" is a
term commonly used to
describe molds that are
black and slimy. It is
also often used in
reference to toxic mold;
molds that are know to
present health risks to
humans and animals by
producing Mycotoxins
(poisons). Mycotoxins
are fungal metabolites
that have been
identified as toxic
agents.
It should be noted,
however, that not all
black mold is toxic and
that not all toxic mold
is black. In fact, there
are over 400,000
different types of mold
and many of them are
black in color of which
only a portion have been
identified. Black mold
and/or toxic mold are
terms often used in
reference to
Stachybotrys, (stack-ee-bot-ris)
aka: Stachybotrys
chartarum, aka:
Stachybotrys atra.
Many fungi (e.g.,
species of Aspergillus,
Penicillium, Fusarium,
Trichoderma, and
Memnoniella) in addition
to Stachybotrys can
produce potent
mycotoxins, some of
which are identical to
compounds produced by
Stachybotrys. For this
reason, Stachybotrys
cannot be treated as
uniquely toxic in indoor
environments.
OVERVIEW:
Virtually everyone has
some type of mold or
another somewhere in
their home. Although not
all types are toxic, it
is sometimes difficult
to distinguish types
without lab testing.
Black molds can develop
from water seepage, and
while toxic mold is less
common than other mold
species, it is not rare.
For that reason, it is
imperative to treat and
remove all molds as if
they are potentially
harmful. Regardless of
the type of mold found,
a home containing mold
is not essentially a
healthy home.
The notoriety of
Stachybotrys leads some
to believe that is the
only “toxic mold”. That
is not true. A number of
toxigenic molds have
been found during indoor
air quality
investigations in
different parts of the
world. Among the genera
most frequently found in
numbers exceeding levels
that they reach outdoors
are Aspergillus,
Penicillium,
Stachybotrys, and
Cladosporium (Burge,
1986; Smith et al.,
1992; Hirsh and Sosman,
1976; Verhoeff et al.,
1992; Miller et al.,
1988; Gravesen et al.,
1999). Penicillium,
Aspergillus and
Stachybotrys toxicity,
especially as it relates
to indoor exposures, are
discussed briefly in the
paragraphs that follow.
PENICILLIUM:
Penicillium species have
been shown to be fairly
common indoors, even in
clean environments, but
can be problematic when
indoor spore levels are
higher than outdoors
(Burge, 1986; Miller et
al., 1988; Flannigan and
Miller, 1994). Spores
have the highest
concentrations of
mycotoxins, although the
vegetative portion of
the mold, the mycelium,
can also contain the
poison. The viability of
spores is not essential
to toxicity. In other
words, a dead spore can
still be a source of
toxin.
ASPERGILLUS:
Aspergillus species are
also fairly prevalent in
problem buildings. This
genus contains several
toxigenic species, among
which the most important
are, A. parasiticus, A.
flavus, and A. fumigatus.
Aflatoxins produced by
the first two species
are among the most
extensively studied
mycotoxins. They are
among the most toxic
substances known, being
acutely toxic to the
liver, brain, kidneys
and heart, and with
chronic exposure, potent
carcinogens of the
liver. They are also
teratogenic (Smith and
Moss, 1985; Burge,
1986). Symptoms of acute
aflatoxicosis are fever,
vomiting, coma and
convulsions (Smith and
Moss, 1985). A. flavus
is found indoors in
tropical and subtropical
regions, and
occasionally in specific
environments such as
flowerpots. A. fumigatus
has been found in many
indoor samples. A more
common aspergillus
species found in wet
buildings is A.
versicolor, where it has
been found growing on
wallpaper, wooden
floors, fibreboard and
other building material.
A. versicolor does not
produce aflatoxins, but
does produce a less
potent toxin,
sterigmatocystin, an
aflatoxin precursor (Gravesen
et al., 1994). While
symptoms of aflatoxin
exposure through
ingestion are well
described, symptoms of
exposure such as might
occur in most moderately
contaminated buildings
are not know, but are
undoubtedly less severe
due to reduced exposure.
However, the potent
toxicity of these agents
advise that prudent
prevention of exposures
are warranted when
levels of aspergilli
indoors exceed outdoor
levels by any
significant amount. A.
fumigatus has been found
in many indoor samples.
This mold is more often
associated with the
infectious disease
aspergillosis, but this
species does produce
poisons for which only
crude toxicity tests
have been done (Betina,
1989). Recent work has
found a number of
tremorgenic toxins in
the conidia of this
species (Land et al.,
1994). A. ochraceus
produces ochratoxins
(also produced by some
penicillia as mentioned
above). Ochratoxins
damage the kidney and
are carcinogenic (Smith
and Moss, 1985).
STACHYBOTRYS:
Stachybotrys chartarum (atra)
has been much discussed
in the popular press and
has been the subject of
a number of building
related illness
investigations. It is a
mold that is not readily
measured from air
samples because its
spores, when wet, are
sticky and not easily
aerosolized. Because it
does not compete well
with other molds or
bacteria, it is easily
overgrown in a sample,
especially since it does
not grow well on
standard media (Jarvis,
1990). Its inability to
compete may also result
in its being killed off
by other organisms in
the sample mixture.
Thus, even if it is
physically captured, it
will not be viable and
will not be identified
in a cultured sample
media, even though it is
present in the
environment and those
who breathe it can have
toxic exposures. For
that reason, it is
prudent to take a
surface sample, such as
tape or bulk, whenever
evidence of black mold
is found. This organism
has a high moisture
requirement, so it grows
vigorously where
moisture has accumulated
from roof or wall leaks,
or chronically wet areas
from plumbing leaks. It
is often hidden within
the building envelope
and inside wall
cavities. When
Stachybotrys is found in
an air sample, it should
be searched out in walls
or other hidden spaces,
where it is likely to be
growing in abundance.
This mold has a very low
nitrogen requirement,
and can grow on wet hay
and straw, paper,
wallpaper, ceiling
tiles, carpets,
insulation material
(especially
cellulose-based
insulation).
This information was
quoted from an article
called “Is Indoor
Mold Contamination a
Threat to Health?”
by Harriet M. Ammann,
Ph.D., D.A.B.T. - Senior
Toxicologist at
Washington State
Department of Health,
Olympia, Washington.
For a full copy of her
report in PDF format
CLICK HERE
For a full copy of her
report in Plain Print
format CLICK HERE
Stachybotrys is a
specific family (genus)
of mold that is present
in the environment.
Out-of-doors
stachybotrys molds help
to decay organic matter.
One particular species
known as stachybotrys
atra (sometimes known as
stachybotrys chartarum)
is prone to growth
indoors. This mold is
normally dark brown or
black in color. It can
look slimy, sooty, or
even like grayish white
strands depending on the
amount of moisture
available and the length
of time it has been
growing. It is important
to remember that many
other common indoor
molds can look similar
to stachybotrys
(including cladosporium,
aspergillus, alternaria,
and drechslera), so
testing is critical to
conclusively identify
stachybotrys in a
building. Stachybotrys
mold needs the proper
conditions in order to
grow, including
moisture, a nutrient
source, temperature, and
time. Standing water or
a relative humidity of
90% or higher is
necessary for
stachybotrys to start
germination and grow.
However, once the
stachybotrys begins to
grow it can continue to
propagate even if the
surface water source
dries up and the
relative humidity falls
to 70%. The nutrient
sources that best
support stachybotrys are
those with a high
cellulose content. As
such, stachybotrys
thrives on natural
materials such as hay,
straw, and wood chips,
as well as building
materials such as
ceiling tile, drywall,
paper vapor barriers,
wallpaper, insulation
backing, cardboard
boxes, and paper files.
Stachybotrys survives a
wide variation in
temperature and grows
most proficiently in
temperatures that humans
consider warm to
moderately hot. It tends
to develop more slowly
than many other
molds—one to two weeks
after moisture intrusion
as compared to one to
two days for molds like
aspergillus, penicillium,
or cladosporium. Despite
its slow start,
stachybotrys usually
develops into the
dominant mold if the
conditions are
favorable, eventually
crowding out other mold
types that may have
colonized the material
first.
Like many other molds,
stachybotrys can spread
both through the
generation of spores and
the growth of root-like
structures called
mycelia. Stachybotrys
spores grow in clusters
at the end of stem-like
structures known as
hyphae. The spores do
not easily disperse into
the air if the colonized
material is wet, as the
spores are held together
by a sticky/slimy
coating. Distribution
through the air is
possible when the mold
dries out or is
disturbed. Because of
this danger of the
airborne dispersion of
spores, all cleaning and
removal of stachybotrys
mold should be done
using appropriate
controls.
Stachybotrys has a high
moisture requirement, so
it grows vigorously
where moisture has
accumulated from roof or
wall leaks, or
chronically wet areas
from plumbing leaks. It
is often hidden within
the building envelope.
When S. chartarum is
found in an air sample,
it should be searched
out in walls or other
hidden spaces, where it
is likely to be growing
in abundance. This mold
has a very low nitrogen
requirement, and can
grow on wet hay and
straw, paper, wallpaper,
ceiling tiles, carpets,
insulation material
(especially
cellulose-based
insulation). It also
grows well when wet
filter paper is used as
a capturing medium.
S. chartarum has a
well-known history in
Russia and the Ukraine,
where it has killed
thousands of horses,
which seem to be
especially susceptible
to its toxins. These
toxins are macrocyclic
trichothecenes. They
cause lesions of the
skin and
gastrointestinal tract,
and interfere with blood
cell formation.
(Sorenson, 1993).
Persons handling
material heavily
contaminated with this
mold describe symptoms
of cough, rhinitis,
burning sensations of
the mouth and nasal
passages and cutaneous
irritation at the point
of contact, especially
in areas of heavy
perspiration, such as
the armpits or the
scrotum (Andrassy et
al., 1979).
One case study of
toxicosis associated
with macrocyclic
trichothecenes produced
by S. chartarum in an
indoor exposure, has
been published (Croft et
al., 1986), and has
proven seminal in
further investigations
for toxic effects from
molds found indoors. In
this exposure of a
family in a home with
water damage from a
leaky roof, complaints
included (variably among
family members and a
maid) headaches, sore
throats, hair loss, flu
symptoms, diarrhea,
fatigue, dermatitis,
general malaise,
psychological
depression. (Croft et
al, 1986; Jarvis, 1995).
SUMMARY:
Stachybotrys has a
different make up than
most other molds and
does not produce
airborne spore as easily
as other molds. If you
were to physically touch
a spot of black mold, it
would feel slimy and
would smear on the area.
Areas and substances
where black mold can be
found include water
soaked wood, ceiling
tiles, wall paneling,
cardboard, even items
made of cotton. Black
mold can grow on drywall
and insulation and can
infest areas in the
floors, walls and
ceilings.
Moisture is essential to
the growth of black
mold, and when it is wet
it is shiny in
appearance.
If and when you are
contemplating clean up
of black mold, there are
two important
considerations:
1. Know what you are
dealing with.
If you were told you
have an animal in your
house, your first
question would be, “What
kind of animal?” Based
on the answer, you will
know the best way to
“suit up” for the
encounter. If you know
you have a kitty-cat,
you may need a pair of
gloves to keep from
getting scratched. If
you know you have a
lion, you might want a
whip, a chair, and a
pistol just in case.
Same with mold. If you
are going to clean up
some common allergenic
molds you will need a
cheap dust mask and a
pair of rubber gloves.
If you are going to
clean up toxic mold, you
will need an expensive
respirator and other
protective gear. Perhaps
you will want to set up
a containment area to
keep toxic mold spores
from contaminating other
areas of your home.
Taping off vents and
duct work can help
prevent the spread of
toxic spores into the
HVAC system as well.
2. Verify the extent
of the problem.
Many of the indoor
mold problems you will
encounter are the direct
result of water
intrusion, i.e. improper
drainage and irrigation,
plumbing leaks, rain and
condensation issues.
After discovering the
root of the problem and
correcting it, you may
be able to clean the
area with bleach
depending on the scope
of the contamination. In
the even you choose to
do the clean up
yourself, it is
important to understand
that bleach is only
good for cleaning mold
off of a surface. It
should not be used for
cleaning mold that is
deeply embedded. Bleach
dries too quickly to
penetrate deep enough
into wood or drywall to
reach embedded mold,
therefore, it does not
always reach mold that
is embedded beyond the
surface. For that
reason, after or instead
of cleaning with bleach,
use a mildewcide (not a
fungicide) disinfect
cleaner to penetrate
deep into contaminated
construction materials
to kill embedded mold.
After this you must take
care to thoroughly dry
the cleaned area. If
there is any trace of
mold left behind, it is
only a matter of time
before you will
repeating the entire
process. One way to be
sure your clean up is
effective is to have the
cleaned materials
re-tested by your
inspector.
3. Hiring a
Contractor
If you choose to
have a contractor clean
up the contamination,
there are a couple of
important matters for
you to consider:
a) Only hire experience
Mold Remediation
Contractors. There are
many fine and well
established remodeling
companies around who do
great remodeling work
but are not well
experienced in mold
remediation. Remodeling
contractors who are not
remediation specialist
can make a bad situation
absolutely horrible with
their lack of mold
experience.
b) Insist on references
of customers who's jobs
are at least one year
old. A mold clean up job
can look really great
right after its
finished. But if it
isn't done correctly the
problem can come back
much worse than before
within six months to a
year.
c) Never allow your
contractor to conduct
his own post-remediation
clearance testing.
RESEARCH / STUDIES
A COLLECTION OF WHITE
PAPERS
Below is an extensive
library of research and
studies by independent
sources from both the
medical and scientific
communities as well as
governmental agencies in
and outside of the
United States. GPI makes
no claim or warranty
regarding the
reliability, accuracy or
current relevance of any
of the data.
Click on any of these
links to scroll down to
the topic:
Stachybotrys Induced
Hemorrhage in the
Developing Lung
The Immunopathology of
Hypersensitivity
Reactions
Hypersensitivity
Pneumonitis from Toxic
Mold Exposure
Cognitive Impairment
Associated with Exposure
to Toxigenic Fungi
Building-Related Illness
in Occupants of
Mold-Contaminated Houses
Prevention and Treatment
of Skin Lesion of T-2
Toxin
Diagnosing the Cause of
a "Sick Building:"
Effects of Mycotoxins on
Human Immune Functions
in Vitro
Agonistic and
Antagonistic effects of
Zearalenone, an
Etrogenic Mycotoxin,
Human Cancer Cell lines
Trichothecenes
Toxigenic Fungi: Which
are Important?
Toxigenic Fungi and
Mycotoxins
Exposure Biomarkers in
Chemoprevention Studies
of Liver Cancer
Mechanisms of Aflatoxin
B1 Lung Tumorigenesis
Relationship Between
Lung Cancer and
Aflatoxin B1
Neuronal Effects of
Microbial Toxins
Health Effects,
Pathology, Epidemiology
Ecology, Detection and
Identification Problems
of Moulds in Indoor
Environments
Occupational Exposure to
Molds, Diseases and
Diagnosis
Indoor Moulds: a Public
Health Problem in
Belgium
Pilot Analysis of the
Immune Response to
Fungal Antigens in
Subjects Working in
Humidity Damaged Houses
Can Microbial Volatile
Metabolites Cause
Irritation at Indoor Air
Concentrations?
Growth Conditions of
Streptomyces Anulatus
Regulate Induced
Inflammatory Responses
and Cyto Toxicity in
Macrophages
Clinical Findings
Related to Indoor Fungal
Exposure - Review of
Clinic Data of a
Specialty Clinic
Pulmonary Hemorrhage
Among Infants with
Exposure to Toxigenic
Molds
IAQ and Human Toxicosis:
Empirical Evidence and
Theory
Cognitive Impairment
Associated with Exposure
to Toxigenic Fungi
Symptoms Associated to
Work in a Water Damaged
School Building
Sensory Irritation of
Microbially Produced
Volatile Organic
Compounds in Mice During
Repeated Exposures
Immunological
Biomonitoring in the
Assessment of Exposure
to Airborne Fungi from
Waste Handling
Chronic Toxic
Encephalopathies
Apparently Related to
Exposure to Toxigenic
Fungi
Building-Related Illness
in Occupants of
Mold-Contaminated Houses
Diagnosing the Cause of
a "Sick Building:" a
Case Study of an
Epidemiological and
Microbiological
Investigation
Fungal Exposure and IGg-levels
of Occupants in Houses
with and without Mold
Problems
The Immunopathology of
Hypersensitivity
Reactions
Exposure to Stachybotrys
Chartarum Induces
Immunoglobulin a
Antibody Response in Man
Sensitization to Molds
and Respiratory Symptoms
in School Children
Mycotoxin Cytotoxicity
Screening of Field
Samples
The Effect-Inhaled
Spores of Mycotoxin
Producin Fungi on
Animals
Trichothecenes as a
Potent Inducer of
Apoptosis
Analysis for
Stachybotrys Toxins
Assessing Bioaerosols in
Elementary School
Classrooms
Anatomy of a Fungal
Problem
Prevalence of Fungi in
Carpet Dust Samples
Detection and
Decontamination of a
Facility Contaminated
with Fungi Including
Stachybotrys chartarum
Airborne Concentrations
of Trichoderma and
Stachybotrys linked to
Mycotoxicosis
Exposure Measures for
Studies of Mold and
Dampness and Respiratory
Health
Fungal Growth in
Buildings: The
Aerobiological
Perspective
Why are there Still
Problems with Fungal
Allergen Extracts?
Comparative studies of
fungal media for the
recovery of Stachybotrys
Chartarum from
Environmental Samples
Heteroduplex DNA
Fingerprinting of
Penicillium
Brevicompactum from
House Dust
The Trichodiene Synthase
Gene from Stachybotrys
Chartarum : A Potential
Diagnostic Indicator of
Indoor Contamination
Microscopic Fungi and
Metabolites in
Dwellings-a Bioassay
Study
Moisture, Mold and
Health in Apartment
Homes
Toxigenic Microbes in
Indoor Environment:
Identification,
Structure and Biological
Effects of the
Aerosolizing Toxins
Evaluation of Exposure
to Environmental
Bacteria
Cellular and Humoral
Responses in an Animal
Model Inhaling
Penicillium Chrysogenum
Spores
Sporulation of the
Hyphomycete Stachybotrys
chartarum Under Three
Light Conditions
Mycotoxin Spectra as a
Biochemical Parameter
for Occupational and
Environmental Fungus
Exposure
Membrane Toxic
Substances in
Water-damaged
Construction Materials
and Fungal Pure Cultures
Different Methods to
Characterize Moldy
Buildings
Comparative Studies of
Collection Efficiency of
Airborne Fungal using
Andersen Single-Stage
Sampler and Air-O-Cell
Cassettes
Trichothecene Mycotoxins
in Some Water-Damaged
Buildings
Immunochemical Detection
of Mycotoxins Associated
with
Stachybotryotoxicosis
Mitigation of Visible
Fungal Contamination in
Buildings: Experience
From 1993 - 1998
Microbes and Moisture
Content of Materials
from Damaged Building
Concentrations of Viable
Spores of Fungi and
Actinomycetes in
Ventilation Channels
Air Quality Restoration
in a Fungal Contaminated
Building
Sampling, Results &
Remediation in 300 "Sick
Houses"
Identifying and
Preventing Fungal
Contamination Problems
in New Home Construction
A Toxic Mold Cleanup
Guide
Molds as an
Environmental Factor in
Infant Leukemia?
Mechanisms of Adverse
Health Effects of Moldy
House Microbes: in vitro
and in vivo studies on
toxic effects and
inflammatory responses.
Exposure to Bioaerosols
Schools, Mould and
Health - An Intervention
Study
Development of Methods
to Monitor the Success
of Repair Measures
Neurotoxic Effects of
Microbial Toxins
The Biological
Activities of the
Metabolites of Microbes
Present in the Indoor
Air
Environment,
Decision-Making and
Well-Being - Insecurity,
Uncertainty and Crisis
of Expertise
Radonsafe Foundation,
Moisture Prevention and
Air Exchange in a
Healthy Building
Adsorption, Desorption,
and Chemical Reactions
in the Particulate
Matter Collected on Air
Filters and Ducts
Fungal Allergens and
Antigens - Their
Characterization and
Biological Effects in
Mice after Inhalation
Exposure
Indoor Air Quality
Control
Mold and Moisture
Transfer in Building
Structures and Buildings
with Particular Regard
to the Prevention of
Health Hazards
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