Stachybotrys atra. This is the really, really bad one. Businesses have been
trying to ignore it for a long time. Due to Jeff's work, I've been hearing
about it for years. It produces irritating airborne mycotoxins which cause
serious breathing difficulties, memory and hearing loss, dizziness, flulike
symptoms, lung fibrosis and bleeding in the lungs.
  Jeff does a lot of mold work; testing, remediation and expert witnessing.
Currently, he's providing expert testimony against a small airport with a HUGE
'mold' problem. Employees had been suffering various respiratory and allergic
type ailments for a long, long time and the company refused to pay attention.
One woman finally died from lung fibrosis and bleeding in the lungs. Another
remains hospitalized for the same symptoms.
   When the dead woman's attorney got involved, OSHA forced the company into
air and wipe sampling. The results were so horrific that the building was
condemned. Several employees have chronic asthma and/or bronchitis and are
permanently disabled. Others, with less exposure, have recovered, thankfully.
Jeff was able to prove conclusively, that stachybotrus atra is the cause of the
death and other chronic illnesses in the employees. The company is going under
due to lawsuits, whose outcomes, will hopefully, provide for the disabled for
the rest of their lives and also somehow compensate the dead woman's family in
a small way.
  This is one God-awful mold. But, the illness problems that come from it are
almost always related to the respiratory system. Occasionally, hearing is
affected. Arthritic conditions don't appear to be caused by stachybotrus. (I
just ran...okay, I walked...and double-checked with Jeff...no associated
arthritic problems.) Di, I'm glad you're out of that building. Jeff says you
should get a quick checkup on your respiratory system. Since you're not having
symptoms, likely you're fine : )
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Hoping your hills are never too steep.
Be well, Patty