Is black mold dangerous?
"Black mold" is a common name, not a scientific one. It usually refers to Stachybotrys chartarum, though plenty of harmless molds are also dark in color.
What the agencies actually say
The CDC position is narrower than the folklore. Yes, certain molds produce toxins; no, a proven link between Stachybotrys and serious illness has not been established; and in any case indoor growth gets handled the same way whatever its species or its color.
The EPA lands in the same place for the same reason. It advises against routine species testing precisely because knowing the name changes nothing about what has to happen next: the growth comes out, and whatever is keeping the material wet gets fixed.
Why the species matters less than people expect
A lab result names the organism. It says nothing about where the water is entering, and the water is the whole problem. Clean off the growth without tracing the moisture and it comes back on the same square meter.
Which is why chasing the moisture beats identifying the species almost every time: the exception being when you need paper rather than knowledge, for a closing, a landlord who denies there is an issue, or a claim file.
Reactions vary between people
Every public health body lands on the same caveat: susceptibility is not uniform. Asthma, an allergy history or a weakened immune system can make someone react to an exposure that leaves the rest of the household untroubled, which is precisely why a yes-or-no answer does not exist.
Next step: Mold inspection across Maryland
If there is water in the home right now, that changes the priority: start here instead.
What follows is a summary of guidance published by public health agencies. It is not medical advice. If you think your home is affecting your health, that is a conversation for a physician rather than a contractor.