Is Mold Dangerous?

When we talk about molds we usually think about those pesky growth of fuzzy materials in our old shoes, or furniture that has been in storage for quiet some time. Not much of a health risk right?

Wrong! In the past decades or less, we have only started to realize and understand the possible health risks that may happen when we inhale, ingest or when our skins come in contact with molds.

An example of how dangerous molds can be is the Stachybotrys chartarum fungus or most commonly known as black or toxic mold.

Black mold was first described as Stachybotrys atra by Corda in 1837, when samples were found on a wallpaper collected in a home in Prague.

This fungi is a member of the Deuteromycetes, order Moniliales, family Dematiaceae, and is common on plant debris and in soil.

Mold requires constant moisture in order to grow.

Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold is a fungus that has become notorious as a mycotoxin producer that can cause animal and human mycotoxicosis.

S. Chartarum is a greenish-black mold that is commonly found outdoors and sometimes found in damp or flooded homes.

Further Recommended Reading :

• Mycotoxins and The Effects of Black Mold
• Dangerous Mold: Who is At the Greatest Risk?

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team