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Toxic black mold - testing and removal

9/24/2013

8 Comments

 
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Before you start thinking that I am jumping on-board with the media or other companies that use scare tactics to drum up business, the article title was merely meant to get your attention!  You will never see me write about toxic black mold on my website or in a report, despite the power it seems to have in getting people to open their wallets.  

You see, there are actually many things wrong with that label.  One is that molds themselves are not toxic.  Under certain conditions they produce mycotoxins, but the actual research into doses and health effects is not very clear.  Second, even though it has become synonymous with Stachybotrys, many molds can appear black at various stages of their life cycle.

Don't get me wrong - I have no doubt that reactions to mold and mold by-products exist and I am not down-playing any potential health issues that people have experienced, it is just that it is not feasible to quantify this reaction and exposure.  As a matter of fact I routinely experience multiple physical symptoms during an assessment.  In addition, mold is problematic as it is well documented that it is allergenic alive or dead, degrades building materials, and is indicative of an underlying water intrusion issue that needs to be corrected.

So, with some exceptions your concern should be why do you have mold growth and not be so much whether you have toxic black mold - After all, if I were to provide an assessment and told you that Stachybotrys was not identified, but that the predominant genera appeared to be Penicillium or Cladosporium  would you be content to leave that nice fuzzy growth on your walls? Of course not.  That would be like saying you have a Pit Bull biting one leg and a Doberman biting the other, but you are only worried about getting rid of the Pit Bull because you have heard their bite is a little worse!

Determining the predominant types of mold present can provide useful information in certain situations, but will typically not alter the recommendations for corrective actions and remediation procedures.  Therefore, I would recommend that you recognize that ANY type of mold growth on building materials is a potential signal that a deficiency is present that needs to be identified, corrected, and remediated in order to return your indoor space to normal fungal ecology. 


As always please let me know if you have questions.  Also, bear in mind that any information provided is general in nature and is not a substitute for a thorough visual assessment and is not meant to apply to specific concerns.  

8 Comments
Emma Daniel link
12/23/2013 04:22:48 pm

It's best to hire a professional mold inspector to find black toxic mold. Black toxic mold usually grows hidden behind walls, above the ceiling or below the floor.

Reply
Russell Strand link
6/2/2017 01:40:08 am

Mold in homes can be a costly and dangerous problem, particularly when infestations of toxic black mold occur. Thanks for the informative post.

Reply
FDP Mold Remediation Baltimore link
12/18/2020 10:17:42 am

Professionals have better methods for the cleaning of the mold as they are equipped with advanced tools and also have a lot of experience in it. So, they can give you better results for the mold cleaning services.

Reply
Mold Removal Company link
1/27/2021 12:46:23 am

I am so glad to glance at this posts which consists of tons of valuable data, thanks for providing these kinds of information. Mold problems are very common and it happens due to age or poor construction, toxic black mold should be cleaned and dealt with quickly to ensure that it does not cause further problems to your house and your family.

Reply
Value Market Research link
8/4/2021 01:37:06 pm

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Christina Hernandez link
2/19/2022 12:27:02 pm

Restoration offers complete mold damage testing and removal services. Don't let mold damage your home or business, Thank you for making this such an awesome post!

Reply
Mold expert link
3/14/2022 04:12:41 am

If you want to find black toxic mold, you should hire a professional mold inspector. Black toxic mold usually grows behind walls, above the ceiling, or beneath the floor.

Reply
Matthew Nobles link
5/31/2022 02:20:22 pm

Each type of asbestos has slightly different chemical properties, all cause significant health issues and should be removed by a professional asbestos testing and removal service.

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    Eric a. mercer, ciec

    Aether Assessments, LLC.
    www.aetheriaq.com

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