Defining and Detecting Toxic Black Mold in the Home
Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold, is a type of fungi that grows naturally in dark, damp areas. The ideal conditions for growth include high humidity (usually over 65 percent relative humidity) and an ambient interior temperature between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This contaminant infests the home by releasing spores to the environment. These microscopic cells can become airborne very easily, and then attach to surfaces in wet, dark areas. When the spores settle on a surface and begin to germinate, they produce a branching network called hyphae.
Because black mold cannot survive without moisture and a dark environment, any ongoing issue in the home such as an unnoticed leaking roof or dripping pipe unseen under subflooring or behind interior walls only encourages growth. The mold then begins digesting the surface it is growing on in order to survive. Because it feeds on cellulose-based materials, it is a threat to the homeowner due to its infestation of wood, paneling, wallpaper, drywall, and other home building materials.
Because of its proclivity to grow in dark areas, black mold may go undetected for years before being discovered. A pipe under the kitchen sink can be dripping very slowly into the subflooring, and go undetected for a long time. Covered by paneling or kitchen cupboards, black mold has the opportunity to grow undetected. Slow buildup of moisture in a bathroom that is poorly ventilated can allow black mold to develop in wallpaper and areas unseen by the homeowner, such as under the bathtub. Bathrooms in older homes do not often have either windows or a ventilation fan. An airtight and unventilated attic, filled with insulation, can gather moisture due to the insulating properties of the construction, and give black mold an opportunity to get a foothold. The changing of the seasons in certain areas of the country enhance black mold's opportunity to grow. These results can be devastating to the homeowner in both terms of health hazards and undue expense in correcting the situation.
Although it is hard to believe, newer home construction is probably a better environment for toxic black mold to grow in than older homes. Due to bills passed in Congress demanding better energy efficiency in new home construction in recent years, newer homes are more airtight than older ones are, giving black mold a better breeding ground. Prior to this, excess production of mold spores was usually diluted by the regular exchange between indoor and outdoor air. The money saved in home efficiency is now outweighed by the risk of health hazard to the homeowner, and resulting doctor and hospital bills.
A regular inspection of the home is one of the easiest ways to detect the presence of toxic black mold. Although studies have shown that the presence of this particular health hazard is not as common as one might think, if you live in an area of the country that has high temperatures and humidity, has a changing of the seasons that produces a lot of moisture, or live in any area prone to flooding, it is a safe bet that the environment is right for the growth of black mold.
Conduct regular inspections of areas that might be conducive to black mold growth, including bathrooms, kitchens, attics, and interior walls and ceilings. Often, the presence of black mold is not detected until major interior reconstruction, such as redoing a bathroom or kitchen. Interior water carrying pipes that "sweat" and are in a closely contained area are susceptible to black mold growth. A toilet that sweats in high humidity summers can also encourage growth. Knowing what to look for, and where to look, are important to the safety of homeowners. Regular inspections for leaking and moisture building conditions are a must in combating of toxic black mold.
Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects, and excels in research.
-
![Doityourself Staff]()
![Dawn Hammon]()
Dawn Hammon has thrived in freelance writing and editor roles for nearly a decade. She has lived, worked, and attended school in Oregon for many years. Dawn currently spends her days convincing her children she is still smarter than them while creating new experiences with her husband of 24 years.  Her multiple interests have led her to frequently undergo home improvement projects. She enjoys sharing the hard-earned knowledge that comes with it with the audience of DoItYourself.com. Dawn and her sister make up a power-tool loving duo that teaches classes to local women with the goal of empowering them to tackle their fears and become comfortable with power tools. Tapping into her enthusiasm for saving money and devotion to sustainable practices, Dawn has recently launched a passion project aimed at connecting eco-friendly products and socially-responsible companies with consumers interested in making conscientious purchases, better informing themselves about products on the market, and taking a stand in favor of helping to save the planet. When she is not providing stellar online content for local, national, and international businesses or trolling the internet for organic cotton clothing, you might find her backpacking nearby hills and valleys, traveling to remote parts of the globe, or expanding her vocabulary in a competitive game of Scrabble. Dawn holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, which these days she mostly uses to provide therapy for her kids and spouse. Most recently, I worked for a small local professional organizing and estate sale company for four years where I learned a ton about organizing and/or disposing of just about anything. She was raised in a tool-oriented, hands-on, DIY family. Her dad worked in the floor covering business and owned local floor covering businesses, so of course selling floor covering was one of her first jobs. Her brother was a contractor for about 30 years and site supervisor for Habitat for Humanity. I worked with him often, building decks, painting houses, framing in buildings, etc. With her sister, she holds power tool classes to empower women who are scared or have never used them. Not quite homesteaders, she did grow up with a farm, tractors, motorcycles, expansive gardens, hay fields, barns, and lots of repairs to do. Plus she and her family preserved foods, raised cattle and pigs, chopped and hauled firewood, and performed regular maintenance on two households, outbuildings, fencing, etc. As an adult, she has owned two houses. The first one she personally ripped out a galley kitchen and opened it up to the living area, plus updated every door, floor covering, and piece of trim in the place. In her current home, she's tackled everything from installing real hardwood flooring to revamping the landscape.
