What is Stachybotrys? Stachybotrys, also known as Stachybotrys atra, is a mold associated with health effects in people.  Stachybotrys is a greenish-black mold that can grow on materials with a high cellulose content (such as drywall sheetrock, dropped ceiling tiles, and wood) that become chronically moist or water-damaged, due to excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, or flooding.  Stachybotrys is a relatively uncommon mold.  Stachybotrys spores do not become easily airborne; therefore, contamination of indoor air by Stachybotrys is unusual.

How can you tell if Stachybotrys is present in your work place and/or home?
All mold needs water to grow.  Mold can grow anywhere there is water damage, high humidity or dampness.  Most often molds are confined to areas near the source of water.  Removing the source of moisture, such as through repairs or dehumidification, is critical to preventing mold growth.  Many molds are black in appearance but are not Stachybotrys, for example, the black mold commonly found between bathroom tiles.  Stachybotrys can only be positively identified through microscopic exam or by specially trained professionals.

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How can Stachybotrys affect your health?
Typically, indoor air levels of SC are low; and therefore not generally hazardous to health.  However, as with other molds, at higher levels health effects can occur.  These include allergic rhinitis (cold like symptoms), dermatitis (rashes), sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and aggravation of asthma.  Some related symptoms are more general, such as inability to concentrate and fatigue.  Usually symptoms disappear after the contamination is removed.

There has been some evidence linking Stachybotrys with pulmonary hemosiderosis, a condition that causes bleeding in the lungs of infants generally less than six months old.  This is a very rare condition. In cases of hemosiderosis, the exposure to Stachybotrys came from highly contaminated dwellings, where the infants were continually exposed over a long period of time.

What should you do if mold is present in your home or apartment?
Although any visible mold can be tested by an environmental consultant and/or analyzed by a laboratory specializing in microbiology, these tests can be very expensive -- from hundreds to thousands of dollars.  There is no simple and cheap way to sample the air in your home to find out what types of mold are present and if they are airborne.  As noted above, even if you had your home tested, it is difficult to say at what levels molds would cause health effects.  Therefore, it is more important get rid of the mold rather than find out more about it.  The most effective way to treat mold is to correct underlying water damage and clean the affected area.

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How should mold be cleaned?
Mold should be cleaned as soon as it appears.  Persons cleaning mold should be free of symptoms and allergies.  Use a common household dish soap and water mix (1 part soap to 10 parts water) to clean it. You can add a little bleach to the dish soap and water mix if discoloration is an issue.  Do not add ammonia.  This can result in dangerous vapors.  Apply the dish soap and water mix to the surface with a sponge, let it sit for 5 minutes, and then thoroughly dry the surface. Dispose of any sponges or rags used to clean mold.  Follow a second time with clean dish soap & water & a clean sponge then dry the area.

If the mold returns quickly or spreads, it may indicate an underlying problem such as a leak.  Any underlying water problems must be fixed to successfully eliminate mold problems.  If mold contamination is extensive, a professional abatement company may need to be consulted.

Will my health or my child's health be affected and should we see a physician?
If you believe that you or your children have symptoms that you suspect are caused by exposure to mold, you should see a physician.  Keep in mind that many symptoms associated with mold exposure may also be caused by many other illnesses.  You should tell your physician about the symptoms and about when, how, and for how long you think you or your children were exposed.

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