A Collier County Sheriff's Office employee is suing the county, accusing commissioners of failing to act against the onslaught of mold and fungus the workers complained fouled the air and made them ill as they worked inside the former courthouse.

Much media attention has recently been focused on the issue of mold. Headlines scream to beware of "toxic mold" and "black mold". Many articles written for mass circulation to the layperson lack scientific understanding and tend to classify all black molds as toxic. In order to dispel mold myths and provide factual information to the average person, it is critical to understand the complex nature of mold. One important question to address is, "Are all black molds toxic?"