Unpopular Opinion: Knowing the Mold Type Doesn't Always Help You
Most people still cling to the idea that identifying the type of mold is the only way to take it seriously.
The Mold Species Myth
Knowing the species of mold usually isn't very helpful.
Myth
You need to know the species to know if mold is dangerous.
If it's not "toxic black mold," it's not serious.
Surface swabs and tape lifts tell you all you need to know.
Species gives you a clear, reliable picture.
Reality
All mold is toxic, and airborne levels better indicate danger.
There is no level of 'safe' mold for any species.
Airborne mold is what people are likely to ingest: surface testing shows historical mold.
Results vary by lab, and small subsets are categorized.
100,000+ mold species worldwide
1,000+ mold species indoors in North America
Lab testing is trained on species grown in labs.
DNA testing covers a list of ~36 species.
Knowing the species is like finding out your friend’s middle name. Interesting? Maybe. Helpful? Not really.
Join the whole-area testing movement.