Stachybotrys

Stachybotrys Mold: Toxic Black Mold in Florida

Stachybotrys, commonly referred to as toxic black mold, is a greenish-black mold that has earned its reputation as one of the most dangerous indoor molds. Unlike common household molds, Stachybotrys is known for producing potent mycotoxins that can severely impact human health and cause extensive property damage when left untreated.

This mold thrives in water-damaged environments and is most often discovered after flooding, roof leaks, plumbing failures, or prolonged moisture intrusion. Because Florida’s climate provides ideal humidity levels, Stachybotrys is a serious and ongoing concern for homeowners and property managers across the state.

What Makes Stachybotrys So Dangerous?

Stachybotrys differs from many other molds because it:

Produces trichothecene mycotoxins
Grows on high-cellulose, low-nitrogen materials
Often spreads undetected behind walls
Releases toxins that affect the immune and respiratory systems

The toxins released by this mold can become airborne when the mold is disturbed, making exposure possible even without direct contact.

Where Stachybotrys Is Commonly Found

Stachybotrys is rarely found outdoors and is most often associated with indoor water damage. It grows well on materials that remain wet for extended periods, including:

Drywall and gypsum board
Wallpaper and backing
Wood framing and subflooring
Ceiling tiles
Textiles, carpets, and insulation

Because its spores are held together in a gelatinous mass, Stachybotrys is often not easily detected in standard air samples unless the colony has been physically disturbed. It is frequently discovered during professional inspections or demolition work.

Stachybotrys Species & Mycotoxins

Several strains of Stachybotrys are considered synonymous, including:

Stachybotrys chartarum
Stachybotrys atra
Stachybotrys alternans

These species may produce powerful mycotoxins such as:

Satratoxins
Verrucarins
Roridins

One of the most concerning toxins, Satratoxin H, is toxic by inhalation and is present directly on the fungal spores. Even when spores die, they remain allergenic and toxigenic, meaning exposure risks can persist long after visible mold growth stops.

Environmental Conditions That Promote Toxin Production

Stachybotrys toxin production increases in environments with:

Relative humidity above 55%
Temperature fluctuations
Chronic moisture or standing water
Poor ventilation

Because Florida frequently experiences these conditions, prolonged exposure risks are significantly higher if mold growth is not addressed quickly.

Health Effects of Stachybotrys Exposure

Stachybotrys exposure has been linked to a wide range of acute and chronic health issues, particularly with long-term exposure.

Reported Health Symptoms Include:

Chronic coughing, wheezing, asthma
Sinus congestion and rhinitis
Headaches and fatigue
Sore throat and flu-like symptoms
Diarrhea and abdominal discomfort
Dermatitis and unusual skin rashes
Intermittent localized hair loss
Eye irritation and nosebleeds
Memory issues and cognitive difficulties

Pneumomycosis, a lung condition caused by fungal toxin absorption, has also been associated with Stachybotrys exposure.

The mycotoxins produced by this mold are known to:

Suppress the immune system
Affect lymphoid tissue and bone marrow
Cause organ damage in animal studies
Act as potential liver and kidney carcinogens

Children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable. Some studies suggest mold exposure may double a child’s risk of developing asthma.

Structural Damage & Property Impact

Decreased Property Value

Stachybotrys infestations can significantly reduce a property’s value. Extensive mold contamination often requires:

Major demolition
Structural rebuilding
Full disclosure during property sale

Homes with documented toxic black mold issues are often sold at substantially reduced prices, if they can be sold at all.

Expensive Cleanup

This mold is not suitable for DIY removal. Professional remediation often requires:

Containment and negative air pressure
Removal of contaminated materials
Specialized protective equipment
Post-remediation clearance testing

Cleanup costs can be substantial, especially in severe cases following flooding or long-term leaks.

Structural Destruction

In advanced infestations, the safest method of removal is often complete removal of affected materials, including:

Drywall
Wood framing
Flooring
Insulation
Roofing components

In extreme cases, entire structures may be deemed unsafe for occupancy.

Why Professional Mold Remediation Is Critical

Because Stachybotrys is slow-growing and often hidden, it frequently coexists with other molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, which are more easily aerosolized and detected.

In Florida, any mold contamination exceeding 10 square feet should be handled by a state-certified mold remediation company due to the hazardous nature of toxic mold exposure.

Suspect toxic black mold in your home or building?

Stachybotrys is not something to ignore or attempt to remove yourself.

We can help connect you with experienced, reputable, state-certified Florida mold inspectors and mold remediation professionals who specialize in identifying and safely removing toxic black mold.

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Contact us today for professional guidance and help restoring a safe, healthy indoor environment.

Stachybotrys Mold Information-

Stachybotrys is a greenish-black mold that is often known as “toxic mold,” or “black mold.” This type of mold is often more dangerous than other white molds, such as food mold. Highly dangerous toxins are released into the air by Stachybotrys, and breathing anywhere around the infestation of mold can cause serious health risks. There are also other dangers of living with this toxic mold, including damage to the home that can be costly to its overall value. Below is a short discussion of some of the many dangers Stachybotrys can bring to your home.

STACHYBOTRYS SPECIES – This organism is rarely found in outdoor samples. It is usually difficult to find in indoor air samples unless it is physically disturbed because the spores are in a gelatinous mass. It grows well on wet media, preferably containing cellulose. It proliferates in the indoor environment, growing on wallpaper, gypsum board, and textiles.

Stachybotrys has worldwide distribution and has been reported to cause dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, and headache, although no definitive reports of human infections have been verified. It has the ability to cause type I hypersensitivity and some species produce the following mycotoxins: satratoxin, verrucarins and roridins.

As a general rule air cultures for Stachybotrys yields unpredictable results, mainly due to the fact that this fungus is usually accompanied by other fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium that normally are better aerosolized than Stachybotrys.

Several strains of this fungus (S. atra, S. chartarum and S. alternans are synonymous) may produce a trichothecene mycotoxin- Satratoxin H – which is poisonous by inhalation. The toxins are present on the fungal spores.

This is a slow growing fungus on media. It does not compete well with other rapidly growing fungi. The dark colored fungi grows on building material with high cellulose content and low nitrogen content.

Areas with relative humidity above 55% and are subject to temperature fluctuations are ideal for toxin production. Individuals with chronic exposure to the toxin produced by this fungus reported cold and flu symptoms, sore throats, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, intermittent local hair loss, and generalized malaise.

The toxins produced by this fungus will suppress the immune system affecting the lymphoid tissue and the bone marrow. Animals injected with the toxin from this fungus exhibited the following symptoms: necrosis and hemorrhage within the brain, thymus, spleen, intestine, lung, heart, lymph node, liver, and kidney. The mycotoxin is also reported to be a liver and kidney carcinogen.

Affects by absorption of the toxin in the human lung are known as pneumomycosis. Appropriate media for the growth of this organism will have high cellulose content and low nitrogen content. The spores will die readily after release. The dead spores are still allergenic and toxigenic. Percutaneous absorption has caused mild symptoms.

Health problems: Stachybotrys can be responsible for a large variety of health and upper respiratory-related problems. Among these are allergies, asthma, and other breathing difficulties.

Some studies have shown that mold can increase a child’s chances of developing asthma by double. Other symptoms related to mold exposure include headaches, unusual skin rashes, nosebleeds, itchy or burning eyes, or any other allergy or cold-related symptoms. Memory problems, and even death, have been reported by those exposed to Stachybotrys.

Decreased home value: A home’s value will greatly decrease depending on the type and scope of the mold infestation. Stachybotrys can cause extensive damage within the home, and may do damage that the current homeowner can’t afford to repair. Getting out from under a house in this situation is sure to bring a significant decrease in the sale price, as the new homeowner will be left with much renovating to complete.

Expensive clean up: This black type of toxic mold is well known for its ability to extensively damage homes. We’ve all seen the news footage of camera crews filming the interior homes ravaged by flooding due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The mold grows fast, and it grows tough to clean as well. Stachybotrys is not the kind of mold most homeowners will want to clean up themselves. A good, reliable mold remediator will be needed for most clean-ups, and depending on the damage, it could be very costly for them to complete the job.

Structural damage: When mold grows in certain situations, such as during natural disasters, it will grow fast due to the excess moisture that cannot be removed. Even when cleaning crews are finally able to enter the homes and remove the moldy flooring and furnishings, often times too much damage has already been done. Sometimes, the best way to make sure mold is fully eradicated is to forgo killing and scraping it, and completely remove it by removing all the surfaces with which it has come into contact. This can be dry walls, wood structures, flooring, and even the roof. The damage can be extensive.

Since a house doesn’t have to be subject to a natural disaster for Stachybotrys to grow, it is important for all homeowners to know the dangers of this toxic mold, so that if they suspect their house is affected, it can be dealt with immediately. Preventing mold is the best thing a homeowner can do, and leaving a known patch to grow beyond contamination is only asking for one or more of these dangers to knock on the door of your home.

Resource Links-

Source: Wikipedia on Stachybotrys Mold- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachybotrys and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachybotrys_chartarum and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_mold

NIH- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8945704/ and https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2828207/ and https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC145304/

CDC- https://www.cdc.gov/mold-health/data-research/facts-stats/index.html

OSHA- https://www.osha.gov/publications/shib101003

Mayo Clinic- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mold-allergy/symptoms-causes/syc-20351519

American Allergy Association- https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/allergies/mold-allergy and https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/allergy,-asthma-immunology-glossary/stachybotrys-chartarum-defined and Toxic Mold Syndrome- https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/toxic-mold

ScienceDirect- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/stachybotrys and https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/stachybotrys

Journal of Allergy- https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(13)01986-6/fulltext

UF- https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/citrusco/2018/08/08/mold/

Cleveland Clinic- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24862-black-mold

ThermoFisher Scientific- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/stachybotrys