- Melinda Ballard and Ron Allison sued their homeowners insurance company when Ron's neurological impairment was linked with exposure to the "toxic black mold," Stachybotrys. The lawsuit was decided in their favor, based on alleged negligence on the part of the insurance company. This alleged negligence contributed to mold contamination with Stachybotrys. The monetary amount awarded to the plaintiffs was over $30 million. Although this figure was greatly reduced on appeal, the original amount caught the attention of a lot of people.
Note: Any mold that has the ability to give off gases or particulates that can be toxic to humans is known as a "toxigenic mold." Stachybotrys can be present without giving off toxic gases or particulates. The prudent approach is to get rid of Stachybotrys in a timely fashion and also to get rid of all other types of mold, because many other fungi are also toxigenic. The term "toxic black mold" is therefore incorrect, yet I continue to use it in this website because this is the term the public knows.
The kingdom of the Fungi is the classification category for "mold." "Mold" is the common term for fungi, similar to "germs" or "weeds." Fungi, mold, and mildew all refer to the same type of microorganisms. Mushrooms also belong to the kingdom of the Fungi.
- Rising asthma and allergy rates caused many parents to question whether their homes had black mold or any other mold and whether mold could be the cause of their children's symptoms.
- Houses were built tighter since the energy crisis of the 1970s. A tight house usually means less ventilation. If there is mold growth in the house, the mold gives off gases which are then trapped in the house. These gases, as well as mold spores and other particulates, can be allergenic and immunosuppressant. Some gases provoke neurotoxic symptoms.
Black mold was linked to the illness or death of a dozen or so Cleveland infants.
- Exposure to the black mold, Stachybotrys, and exposure to cigarette smoke were linked with the lung hemorrhages suffered by these infants. While controversy remains, some physicians are convinced that this mold affected the infants. The question also arose whether this mold or any other mold might contribute to some crib deaths.
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| Isn't mold everywhere?
- Yes, mold spores are everywhere. "Spores" are like the seeds of the mold. If you open a door, they float in from the outside. The issue with mold is typically not the stray spores that float around. The concerns with mold relate to mold that is growing in the house in significant amounts.
- Mold that is growing in a house can give off a lot of spores and other particulate matter, as well as gases. Even if particulate matter is contained in a wall cavity, the gases migrate from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration, i.e., throughout the house. I sometimes tell clients that living in a moldy environment is like living in airborne food poisoning.
Several health concerns exist with mold:
- Elevated numbers of spores and other particulates from mold could be released to the air. Exposure to airborne bioaerosols (living microorganisms or products from these organisms) could provoke respiratory or other symptoms.
- Gases are given off by mold that is growing. These gases can also provoke respiratory or other symptoms.
- Spores of some fungi can grow in human tissue, such as sinus or lung tissue. This can be a potentially very serious condition. Prevention (through wearing an N95 respirator) is a decidedly better approach than undergoing medical treatment for a fungal lung infection.
Note: "Fungi" is the scientific term for "mold." "Mold" is a generic term, like saying "germs" or "weeds." "Mildew" is mold.
Are some people more at risk than others?
- Infants, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, someone on chemotherapy for cancer or AIDS, or someone on immunosuppressant drugs following an organ transplant are more at risk.
- Some people have a higher susceptability to mold due to genetic or other factors.
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