Is Black Mold Dangerous?

The CDC treats it like any other mold. It describes Stachybotrys chartarum as a greenish-black mold that grows on materials with a high cellulose content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board and paper, where there is constant moisture. It says no test exists that proves an association between Stachybotrys chartarum and particular health symptoms, that it is not necessary to determine what type of mold is growing in your home, and that all molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal.

The CDC says exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. For some people mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes or a skin rash, people with asthma or mold allergies may have severe reactions, and immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found sufficient evidence to link indoor mold exposure with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough and wheeze in otherwise healthy people, and with asthma symptoms in people with asthma.

If you see or smell mold, the CDC says to remove it and fix the moisture problem. Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water, and the CDC warns never to mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners because this will produce a poisonous gas. It advises keeping indoor humidity no higher than 50 percent, fixing leaks, and drying out a home fully within 24 to 48 hours after a flood, and says sampling for mold can be expensive and there are no set standards for what is an acceptable amount of mold in a home.