There are many reasons for removing mold that you find in your home, but there are actually only a handful of mold species that cause toxicity in humans and animals. Unless you are a biologist with an advanced lab in your home, however, you will be unable to identify whether a mold growing in your home is toxic or benign. Therefore, in the interest of protecting your family and pets, it is always best to remove mold you find in your home right away.
Mold in the Attic
Mold grows when microscopic fungal spores that exist practically everywhere indoors and out land on a moist surface. Spores that land on a dry surface will be unable to form an actual mold colony since fungi are thirsty organisms. Technically, any part of your home can potentially provide fertile ground for a mold colony, but any space that provides a source of excess moisture, such as a basement with leaking plumbing or the attic underneath a leaking roof, is much more likely to attract mold than other rooms.
Mold Toxicity
Stachybotrys chartarum, also called Stachybotrys atra, is the only mold species known to produce toxic effects in humans. These molds are not toxic themselves but are capable of producing toxins called mycotoxins, and it is these mycotoxins that cause health problems for humans over prolonged exposure. Stachybotrys chartarum is typically green or black but can be any color. It is more likely to grow on substances with high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust and lint.
Removal Methods
Most indoor mold colonies can be quickly and safely removed. Remove any physical mold growth and vacuum it up or throw it away (discard the vacuum bag to prevent the spread of spores from the vacuumed fungus). Clean the entire area over which the mold was growing with a commercial disinfectant or a solution of 1 cup bleach diluted into 1 gallon of water. Allow the entire area to air-dry. Mold usually cannot be totally removed from porous materials such as rugs or old clothes stored in an attic, so these items often need to be discarded.
Other Considerations
To remove an individual mold colony without removing the source of excess moisture that caused it is an exercise in futility, since spores in the air will simply land on the moisture and form a new colony in the same location. Check the roof above the attic for leaks as well as any plumbing or air conditioning components that may be in the attic. Better insulation or ventilation can cut down on condensation on attic walls. Once the source of excess moisture is removed from the attic, you can be reasonably assured that no new mold will grow there in the future.
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