Toxic black mold is a big cause of concern among homeowners, and prospective buyers of homes. We have all heard horror stories about this slimy life-threatening invader, but how do we distinguish between run-of-the-mill mold and toxic black mold?

First of all, having any mold is a problem. If you have any kind of mold in your home that is a bad sign, because where one kind of mold can grow others can grow also. The species stachybotrys, which is the proper scientific name of toxic black mold, is extremely common in North America in soil. So it is not that big of a stretch to get stachybotrys in your home if you have other kinds of mold thriving there.

One indicator of whether your mold is toxic black mold is the place it is growing. Stachybotrys likes to eat cellulose, which means wood or paper or other natural fibers. If it is on concrete, tile or plastic you are probably not dealing with the nasty stuff. If it is on the drywall, also known as the brand name Sheetrock or gypsum board, you are more likely to have a problem because the surface of this material is paper. Also, many types of insulation use paper as a backing, and mold can grow on that.

Should you worry about toxic black mold? Certainly if you have an infant in the house or anyone who is in frail condition. A number of infant deaths in Cleveland in the early 90s were attributed to toxic black mold. Toxic black mold is also implicated in a wide variety of other symptoms, from cold symptoms to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).