Stachybotrys Mold           Often when mold is discovered indoors the first questions people ask are “what kind of mold is it?” and “Is it toxic?” Their thinking is that there are only a few species of mold that are toxic, if you have one your are in big trouble and if you don’t there’s nothing to worry about. People are referring to Stachybotrys when they say “toxic, black mold”. Stachybotrys is commonly found in mold infested buildings. It is not the only toxic mold. Experts have estimated that there are about 70,000-200,000 different species of mold, all of them allergenic and capable of producing toxins.           Quick Fact: Technically Stachybotrys does not refer to a species of mold. In the classification system used to identify mold, species is a sub-class of genus. For example, Stachybotrys chatarum (S. chartarum) is a species of mold. Stachybotrys is a genus of mold. So the next time someone tells you they have Stachybotrys mold in their home ask them which species of Stachybotrys. Not that is matters - all molds should be cleaned up the same way.           Stachybotrys A.K.A. “Toxic, black mold”           Stachybotrys (Stacky-bot-trys) is the infamous toxic, black mold. Ironically, like all molds, Stachybotrys, may be several different colors depending on the species and its growth cycle. Fortunately, it’s still easy to identify. It is typically black. It loves the paper backing of drywall and is commonly found growing on it when there is mold associated with water damage. It is of concern because it may produce toxins that cause cancer and has been associated with respiratory problems. Stachybotrys does not grow well in petri dishes. Professional testing equipment is recommended to test for Stachybotrys in air. When it is seen growing on a wall indoors there is usually a larger amount hidden inside the wall cavity and on the backside of wall. Utmost care should be taken when cleaning up this mold to protect workers and to contain the mold spores released during demolition and cleaning activities.               Back to top                            Copyright © 2014-2017 Healthy Living Spaces LLC.  All rights reserved.   877-992-9904 Revised: July 05, 2017. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders.