Toxic Mold

Although many of the most common environmental molds are not toxin producing fungi, a number of molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum and several of the Aspergillus species produce potent toxins that can cause serious health problems. Previously considered to be a warm climate species, Stachybotrys chartarum is being detected in the Pacific Northwest in increasing numbers. Among the Aspergilli, A. niger, A. versicolor, and A. fumigatus all produce toxins that are capable of causing serious illness. Although there is no documented scientific evidence linking the exposure to these molds in the environment with illness, anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that extreme caution must be taken when it is known that these molds are in the indoor environment. Since they are known to produce potent toxins that can cause serious chronic illness, it is imperative that they be removed from any environment in which they are found. This is particularly true where the inhabitants may be very young, elderly, chronically ill, or immunocompromised, as these groups are much more susceptible to the variety of illnesses caused by these molds. Specific measures for the removal of these toxin-producing molds must be followed when remediation is undertaken, and these measures should be left to experts with experience in the remediation of toxin-producing molds.