How To Identify Toxic Black Mold

It s common name is toxic black mold or toxic mold because it contains some extremly bad toxins but will likely not poison you.

How to identify toxic black mold. Other black molds grow indoors and can be confused with stachybotrys. Mold is not in itself toxic although some molds produce mycotoxins that have the toxic effects attributed to mold. Black toxic mold is also known as stachybotrys chartarum and is dark black or sometimes dark green. If you suspect black mold is growing in an area in your home and you re experiencing these symptoms you need to get it checked out and removed quickly.

It is usually slimy because of a wet layer on the top. The label toxic mold is misleading. The color of a mold isn t. Black mold refers to several species of mold which is a type of fungus that have a dark green or black appearance.

Plus it s extremely rare to find the more aggressive forms of toxic mold and even these forms of mold are generally only life threatening to infants the elderly or the. In fact mold can be present on surfaces and in the air without being noticeable because the mold spores are microscopic and thus cannot be seen with the naked eye. It is a highly toxic form of mold commonly found in attics. The easiest way to identify black mold is when you can visibly see it growing on a porous surface.

There are several molds that look similar to toxic black mold. How to identify black mold method 1 of 3. It grows in dark unventilated areas on floors walls and ceilings and it can also grow inside drywall on wood framing and in other places where you can t see it. Unfortunately the earlier stages of mold are not very easy to identify.

Common early symptoms of black mold exposure can cause itchy skin sneezing watery itchy eyes headaches coughing and skin irritation. However if a toxic black mold colony s water source runs out it can appear dry and powdery. Looking in mold prone areas. Other mold species that grow in the house may be pink gray white or brown but stachybotrys true to its name is distinctively black.

One such type is stachybotrys chartarum. The best way to identify black mold stachybotrys chartarum is by its color. Black mold has a mildew or musty smell. This mold releases mycotoxins which are toxic chemicals that are present in mold spores that get released into the air and can then be inhaled.

Toxic black mold is a specific type of black colored mold it s scientific name is stachybotrys chartarum. Mold typically grows in well saturated areas.