GIANTmicrobes Toxic Mould
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About This Product
Originally found in straw, where it made animals ill, Toxic Mould (Stachybotrys chartarum) is partly responsible for Sick Building Syndrome and can cause respiratory issues like wheezing and coughing as well as fever, sinus and nasal congestion. Ordinary bathroom mould is different - some form of plant material called cellulose is required for Toxic Mould to grow. Materials like wallpaper, fibreboard even dust and lint are suitable environments for this fungus to grow. Toxic Mould also has a particularly high water requirement, so is typically associated with wetter and cooler climates as well as flooding or plumbing problems. Fortunately Toxic Mould isn't very common in the southern states and territories of mainland Australia due to our relatively warm and dry climate.
- Ages 3+
- Size: Approx. 18cm
- Premium quality plush
Stachybotrys (or straw mould) is a black, toxic fungus that first achieved recognition in the 1930’s when horses on Russian farms became sick after eating contaminated hay. More recently, Stachy has been implicated as a cause of “sick building syndrome.”
While the mould itself is not pathogenic, it does produce toxins that can cause a variety of health problems, ranging from rashes, to fevers, to burning sensations in the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat, to life-threatening reactions for those with respiratory conditions.
Stachy does not grow on plastic, vinyl, concrete, or ceramic tiles – so the mould in your shower grout is probably something else! (There are thousands of species of moulds, and many are black.) But Stachy does flourish on cellulose-containing materials, such as wallpaper, fibreboard, dust, lint (and, of course, straw). Stachy also requires unusually high moisture levels to grow. While extreme humidity and condensation can produce the requisite wetness, typically flooding or plumbing leaks are responsible.
The best way to keep black, toxic mould from establishing itself near you is to keep indoor humidity below 60% and to address any moisture problems immediately. But if you do discover black mould lurking in some dank location, bleach can sometimes be used to remove it, particularly from flat surfaces (though remember not to mix bleach with ammonia, as the fumes themselves are toxic.)
And if the mould has penetrated walls or floors? Maybe it’s time to remodel.
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