Black mold facts from the American Industrial Hygiene Association

We like to provide our clients, whether they're in Orange County, LA County, San Diego County or Riverside County, with their best resources for understanding mold. We also like to impart our expertise when we're onsite to disseminate the most comprehensive and sage advice on maintaining the structural integrity of a property. 

Apropos to this point, the American Industrial Hygiene Association is a great source of information regarding mold, its formation, the potential effects and preventative measures to take. 

One particular concern we often hear from clients is regarding what the media has referred to as 'black mold'. This has had hyperbole surrounding it for some time and 'black mold' actually usually tends to be a specific type of mold called Stachybotrys Chartarum. This mold is certainly more discernible than others. As stated on the AIHA website, 

"The news media and some contractors often refer to “black mold” or “toxic black mold.” It is usually associated with Stachybotrys chartarum, a type of greenish‐black mold commonly associated with heavy water damage. Not all molds that appear to be black are Stachybotrys. The known health effects from exposure to Stachybotrys are similar to those caused by other common molds, and ​again in high exposure situations (as in agriculture), are known to be associated with severe health effects in some people. Such exposures seldom, if ever, occur in buildings except during remediation activities by people not taking appropriate precautions."

The potentially toxicity of 'black mold' is what has been exaggerated by the media since NOT ALL molds that have a darker color are necessarily bad; there are many variables to consider to determine whether a mold is that severe, which is why having a certified professional is imperative to diagnose any potential problem. 

To gain more information from AIHA, feel free to follow the link to their website, which covers vast amounts of material on black mold and toxic mold.