Mold Causes and Effects “in a Material World”

Abstract

Microorganisms, including mold and yeast, are everywhere. You may be breathing some noxious spores right now as you are reading this article. Journalists interested in sensationalism call most of the mold that causes health issues or property damage “black” mold or “toxic” mold. Stachybotrys chartarum (also known as Stachybotrys atra) and other fungi/molds have made it into the public's consciousness. In this article, you will see that there is no such thing as “toxic” mold. Bacteria and fungi can and do produce secondary metabolites called toxins. These bacteria and fungi are called toxigenic, or capable of producing toxins. The fact is that not all molds are pigmented, and certainly, not all of them are “black.” The things you cannot see, the respirable conidia/spores, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and toxins, are potentially more dangerous than many of the organisms you can see. Here, we explore what we currently know about the effects of water intrusions, water-damaged materials, and the growth of potentially pathogenic and toxigenic mold.