Wet Basements Linked To Toxic Mold

Advisory Report - March 2000

Wet Basements Linked To Toxic Mold
Concerned about your wet basement?  You ought to be.  A toxic mold has been attributed to nine infant deaths in Cleveland, Ohio.  The fungi Stachybotrys atra (S. atra), which are found in wet buildings, have been identified as being responsible for these deaths and serious health problems in other areas of the U.S.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is now understood that the principal biology responsible for the health problems in wet buildings are fungi rather than bacteria or viruses.  And perhaps the most hazardous of the toxic fungi found in wet buildings is Stachybotrys atra.  

Stachybotrys atra is not widely found, but it has been studied for the last 20 years.  It is a greenish-black fungus that can grow on materials with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, dust and lint.  The prevalence of Stachybotrys atra contamination in indoor environments is unknown.

Learn more about what you can do to control surface water to help eliminate your wet basement concern.