Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores

About this book

"In Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores, Nicholas Money explores the science behind the headlines and courtroom drama and profiles Stachybotrys, a toxin-producing mold that is most often singled out as the worst of the mold culprits. This puzzling microbe was first discovered on damp wallpaper in Prague in the nineteenth century and has since colonized all of North America. The same fungus was linked to the deaths of thousands of horses in the 1930s, and its toxins may have been utilized in biological warfare. Indeed, no other fungus produces such a range of toxins in such high concentrations. But despite this unpleasant resume, medical evidence linking Stachybotrys to specific illnesses is sketchy." "Nicholas Money takes on the issue of toxic mold from all angles, highlighting its history, preferred habitats, effects on humans, and practical methods for its identification and eradication. Scientists who have staked their reputations on the toxicity of the fungus are pitted against other experts who see the mold as nothing more than a nuisance. Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores not only makes for fascinating narrative history but also serves as a much-needed anchor for any discussion about this controversial organism."--Jacket.