The biggest concern with mold due to water damage in a house is the growth of black mold. Stachybotrys chartarum, as it’s known to scientists, is a micro fungus that occurs rarely in the wild. It instead prefers the cellulose building material of our homes! It often grows in damp areas or places that have suffered water damage. One common breeding ground for it is wallpaper, and you might find the whole wall behind your wallpaper has become infested with black mold.
The mold spores from black mold are harmful for people to breathe. The spores trigger a range of respiratory troubles, leading to coughing and wheezing and other symptoms of “sick building syndrome.” The effects are especially pronounced and harmful in infants. Prolonged exposure can cause even more serious troubles, such as headache, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs. If you notice a rise in these symptoms among the people in your home, you may have black mold growing somewhere out of sight.
“Black mold” or “toxic mold” is, most frequently, referring to one (or many) of the Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, Memoniella & Fusarium mold spore types. These molds are most commonly discovered attached to wet and decomposing building materials such as drywall and wood. Once disturbed it can be detected in the inside air; occasionally, it can be detected in the inside air without having been disturbed during air sampling.
Below is a photo taken of an interior (exterior wall) in a home that suffered water damage followed by very poor humidity control. The types of molds discovered would be expected under these conditions. For consultation regarding mold contamination in your home or commercial property contac Indoor Microbial Specialist (IMS) 352.633.3591 IMS services: The Villages, Ocala and Gainesville Florida and all the cities in between. Visit us at: https://www.indoormicrobialspecialist.com or at: https://www.homeinspectorusa.biz