Articles Posted in Toxic mold

What is “Black Mold”, and Can it Harm Your Family?

June 11, 2017 | Shawn Collins

My law firm is contacted at least 25 times every year by a homeowner or parent worried that mold is contaminating their home. Mostly, they are worried about the possibility that “black mold” is in their home.

“Black mold” is often found in warm, humid, damp areas of a home, which have a source of moisture. Basements, crawl spaces.

It has a long, fancy, scientific-sounding name- “Stachybotrys chartarum”-which unnecessarily complicates its detection. Just remember this: “black mold” is black. Jet black. Other kinds of mold may be grey or greenish in color.

Naperville Residents’ “Toxic Mist” Complaints Should be Taken Seriously

August 2, 2016 | Shawn Collins

Residents in a subdivision of Naperville, Illinois, believe that their recent health complaints, and mold-like staining on their backyard patios and fencing, are being caused by a “toxic mist” spraying off of a fountain in a pond adjacent to their homes. These resident also claim that they have tested the pond’s water themselves, and found excessively high levels of E Coli bacteria. (The subdivision responsible for the pond says they, too, have tested the pond water, but that no excessive E Coli was detected.) 1

State and local governments are saying that they might get involved, to see what’s really going.

I say to state and local government: “What are you waiting for? Get out to this neighborhood, do comprehensive testing, share the results with the people, and do whatever may be necessary to protect them as soon as possible.”