Definition

• Stachybotrys chartarum is a fungus commonly known as black mold. This fungus, which can sometimes grow indoors, appears as a greenish-black, slimy growth. Black mold is particularly dangerous because it can produce airborne mycotoxins, which can cause health problems. The mold is sometimes called "toxic mold," but the CDC says that this is an inaccurate description, because the mold itself is not toxic, at least not to the touch. It is the mycotoxins in the mold spores that lead to health problems. The airborne mycotoxins are often simply called "toxins."
  
  

Health Effects

• According to Mold-Help, a nonprofit organization that educates about black mold, airborne toxins in mold spores cause several health problems, including difficulty breathing, hearing loss, memory loss, flu symptoms, acid reflux, dizziness, sinusitis and allergic reactions. Some individuals who are exposed to these toxins start having problems with excessive bruising or develop skin lesions. The CDC states that eye irritation, skin irritation and chronic lung diseases are also possible from overexposure to mold mycotoxins.
  
  

Complications

• Airborne black mold toxins can also cause some serious health problems. Sometimes, they get trapped in the sinus cavities of sinusitis sufferers who are exposed to mold spores. If the sinusitis does not improve with typical treatment, the infection and toxins can spread to the bloodstream or the brain, potentially leading to permanent brain damage or life-threatening blood infections. Some have attributed black mold spores to lung hemorrhage in children, but the CDC states that there is not yet a proven link between this deadly condition and black mold exposure.
  
  

Who Is in Danger

• While airborne black mold toxins have an affect on everyone, some individuals are more prone to serious reactions than others. Patients with lowered immune systems, either due to medication or another disease, are more likely to develop a life-threatening lung disease or pneumonia from black mold spore exposure. Those with chronic allergies or lung problems are also more susceptible to complications from lung exposure. The young and elderly are more likely to develop problems than healthy adults.
  
  

Solution

• If you find black mold in your home, you need to remove it quickly. If it is growing on a hard surface, the CDC recommends cleaning the area with a solution of one cup of bleach in one gallon of water. If the mold is growing on drywall, carpet or another absorbent material, you will need to replace the item, because it is impossible to completely clean. Mold must grow in dark, damp places, so find the source of the moisture and deal with it. This will keep the mold from returning. If the mold problem is extensive, have a professional mold removal company help you clean it.