A type of mold that can grow in parts of a structure exposed to constant moisture. Many claim adverse health effects from exposure to this growth. Called stachy for short. See Black Mold, Toxic Mold.
Example: A broken pipe behind the wall caused an outbreak of stachybotrys chartarum mold within the wall and undetected by the inhabitants. When some residents complained of flu-like systems, an inspection was conducted and the mold discovered. The homeowner subsequently had the mold removed and filed a claim on their hazard insurance policy for the damages.
Stachybotrys chartarum
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| Stachybotrys chartarum | ||||||||||||
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| Stachybotrys chartarum (Ehrenberg) Hughes |
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Stachybotrys atra Corda |
Stachybotrys chartarum (obsolete: Stachybotrys alternans and Stachybotrys atra) is a greenish-black mold that is commonly found outdoors and sometimes found in damp or flooded homes. It was originally described from the wall of a house in Prague in 1837 by Czech mycologist August Carl Joseph Corda. It requires constant moisture in order to grow.
Health problems related to this mold have been documented in humans and animals since the 1930s [1] (and it is even considered a likely candidate for the Biblical condition mistranslated as "leprosy", tzaraath). More recently, S. chartarum has been linked with so-called sick building syndrome. However, the link has not been firmly established in the scientific literature.
Two cats died under anesthesia in what is believed to be the first documented case of black mold poisoning in pets. The cats had been living in Florida in a water damaged home. During routine dental procedures both cats experienced severe pulmonary hemorrhage and later died. Blood tests confirmed the presence of a toxin produced by S. chartarum, and severe mold contamination was found in the home.[2]
References
- Nelson, D. "Stachybotrys chartarum: the toxic indoor mold". APSnet. American Phytological Society. http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/stachybotrys/. Retrieved on 19 September 2005.
- "Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and other molds". Air Pollution & Respiratory Health. National Center for Environmental Health. http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm. Retrieved on 19 September 2005.
- "Synonym and Classification Data for Stachybotrys spp.". Doctor Fungus. http://www.doctorfungus.org/imageban/synonyms/stachybotrys.htm. Retrieved on 19 September 2005.
- ^ Etzel RA, Montaña E, Sorenson WG, Kullman GJ, Allan TM, Dearborn DG, Olson DR, Jarvis BB, Miller JD. (1998) Acute pulmonary hemorrhage in infants associated with exposure to Stachybotrys atra and other fungi. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 152(8):757-62.
- ^ "Toxic mold may pose threat to pets". Veterinary Forum (Veterinary Learning Systems) 24 (10): 17. October 2007.
See also
- Bioaerosol
- Indoor air quality
- Mold growth, assessment, and remediation
- Mold health issues
- Sick Building Syndrome
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