# Can I Survive the Attack of the Toxic Mildew?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-survive-the-attack-of-the-toxic-mildew/148012
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 11, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-survive-the-attack-of-the-toxic-mildew/148012 "2003-01-11T20:58:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-survive-the-attack-of-the-toxic-mildew/148012/1 "2003-01-11T20:58:58Z")
In a neighboring town, there is an abandoned school. It’s been closed for several years now, because, as far as I know, it was infested with some sort of ‘toxic mildew’ and the state shut the place down. I don’t know what the mold in question is called. However, the building is right next to several occupied homes, and some outbuildings within yards of the school itself are still used for storage purposes.
First of all, any guesses as to what this stuff might be? (I live in the North-Eastern Ohio Area, if that helps narrow anything down). And secondly, how harmful would it be if I were to a). Live nearby or b). Go inside the building for a couple of hours unprotected? Lastly, if I were to go in, what could I do to protect myself…wear a gas mask, breathe through a cloth, not stay in for more than x amount of time, etc.?
I know the information is a little sketchy, but that’s all I’ve got to work with and the library and the searches I did were either too all-encompassing, or non-existent. Any theories as to what I’m dealing with here and how I should proceed would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-survive-the-attack-of-the-toxic-mildew/148012/2 "2003-01-11T21:59:19Z")
Try Googling for “stachybotrys” which is one of the worst culprits. I got a lot of hits; several sites have “what to do’s” and "how to prevent"s.
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### Author:  [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-survive-the-attack-of-the-toxic-mildew/148012/3 "2003-01-11T22:42:56Z")
Let us know if you find any solid evidence that any kind of mold is, in fact, toxic.
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### Author:  [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-survive-the-attack-of-the-toxic-mildew/148012/4 "2003-01-12T00:08:36Z")
**Cecil Adams** on [Is “toxic mold” the next environmental threat?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/021011.html)