05/15/2026
Stachybotrys is often labelled “the black mould,” but many mould species can be black. In this case, however, this was confirmed to be abundant Stachybotrys mould growth! ⚠️ ‼️ Yet, the air samples we obtained during our visit did not identify this mould type as airborne. Why??
What actually makes Stachybotrys significant:
• Elevated water activity: it only develops when materials stay wet long enough for cellulose to break down
• A slow‑build timeline: growth reflects days to weeks of sustained saturation, not a brief leak
• Sticky, heavy conidia: spores cling to surfaces (they grow in sticky masses) and rarely dominate air samples, making airborne detection unreliable
• Toxicity is conditional: mycotoxin production depends on substrate chemistry, competition, and persistent moisture, not the mould’s colour; however, Stachybotrys is considered one of the most toxigenic moulds (yet everyone reacts to moulds differently)
Stachybotrys isn’t a panic button, it’s a forensic marker of chronic water damage ⏰ If it’s present, the building has been wet long enough to tell a deeper story!
It’s important to note that one of the main ways this mould type could become airborne is through disturbance. Cutting through the drywall or agitating the air in the area may allow for the spores to become airborne. When you see this type of growth, check for any evidence of disturbance and if so, also test surfaces for its presence, as it could have become airborne then settled on surfaces, as it is a heavier type of mould spore! 💡
This is also a reminder to sample unaffected areas of a home first, then focus on areas like these, to avoid potential cross contamination and biased high air quality results!! ✅
If you need assistance with mould, contact OGEE Solutions Inc. today!
☎️ 647-588-7660
📧 [email protected]
🌍 www.ogeesolutions.com
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