Stachybotrys Chartarum Defined

Stachybotrys chartarum (also known as strachybotrys atra) is a slow-growing greenish black mold. It grows only on wood, paper and cotton products and can be found in 2 to 5% of homes in the United States.

Stachybotrys chartarum may produce several toxic chemicals called mycotoxins. These chemicals can be found in spores and small fungus fragments released into the air.

There is a potential for people to develop symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, runny nose, irritated eyes or throat, particularly if the person has developed an allergy to this fungus. Stachybotrys chartarum has been blamed for pulmonary hemosiderosis (bleeding in the lungs) in a small number of infants. However, experts claim that this is “not proved.”

Other factors such as second-hand tobacco smoke may be more important in relation to these symptoms.