In Search of a Biomarker
The Development of a Measurable Indicator of Human Exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum: An Interview with Stephen J. Vesper, Ph.D.

A biomarker of human exposure to specific molds, particularly the "black mold" Stachybotrys chartarum, might be considered by some to be the holy grail of mold research. The ability to prove whether a person was exposed to a particular type of mold through the use of a reliable and measurable indicator of human exposure would be another step along the road to proving or disproving a causal connection between human illness and exposure to indoor mold.

Until now, a biomarker of fungal exposure has been as out of reach as that icon of medieval legend. In fact, a December …