Black Mold

• Also known as toxic black mold and deadly black mold, black mold is a type of mold that grows on wet wood, wet paper and other moist areas. This mold is not toxic by itself but instead produces toxic gases called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins have been linked to problems with respiration, coughing and wheezing in otherwise healthy adults. The toxin also causes increased susceptibility to the microbes that cause pneumonia. Black mold may also cause pulmonary hemorrhaging in children, although further tests must be performed to provide proof of a definite link.
  
  

Stachybotrys Chartarum

• A greenish black mold, this mildew can also cause respiratory problems in children and adults. This mold, like others, indicates a problem with stagnant moisture and humidity in the home. Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as Stachybotrys atra, is common in areas that are subjected to flooding, sewage and where overflows are common, such as sink, washer or toilet overflows. If this mildew is detected in a home, remove it with conventional cleaning solutions, and apply diluted bleach to prevent the colony from reforming.
  
  

Aspergillus

• Consisting of over 150 species, the genus known as Aspergillus is found in food such as bread and dairy products such as milk and cheese. This mold produces special mycotoxins called sterigmatocystin and cyclopiaxonic acid, both of which can cause diarrhea and upset stomach. If exposed to a great deal of aspergillus mold over a long period, humans can develop aspergillosis. This condition weakens the immune system, leaving the victim open to bacterial and viral attack. Aspergillus such as Aspergillus versicolor range in color from green to rust.
  
  

Bipolaris

• Bipolaris species of mold are pathogenic, which means that a Bipolaris mold can actually cause infection by the dispersal of its spores or the ingestion of the mold by its victim. Bipolaris mold grows on vegetation such as potatoes and beans where it feeds on the sugars of the plant. The color ranges from brown to gray and white and appears as a fuzz on the surface of the plant. This mold delivers chronic clinical infections such as sinusitis, peritonitis and fungemia.