Showing posts with label myxomycetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label myxomycetes. Show all posts

Mold Clean Up

How to Kill Mold with Bleach

Bleach produces harsh fumes so make sure the area is well ventilated before you begin. You should also wear gloves during the process to protect your hands.

  1. For killing mold with bleach use a ratio of one cup of bleach per gallon of water (ie about 1 part bleach to 10 parts water).
  2. Apply the solution to non-porous surfaces with mold growth either by using a spray bottle or by using a bucket and a sponge or cloth.
  3. You don't need to rinse the surface afterwards (unless it is used for food preparation or a surface which may be touched by small children or pets) as the bleach will inhibit mold growing in the future.

Does Bleach Kill Mold?

Although the active ingredient in bleach, sodium hypochlorite, is the main ingredient in many mold removal products, there are many reasons to use alternatives to chlorine bleach when killing mold. 

One reason is that bleach cannot completely kill mold growing in porous materials. The chlorine in bleach cannot penetrate into porous surfaces such as drywall or wood. The chlorine is left on the surface of porous materials and only the water component of the bleach is absorbed into the material, providing more moisture for the mold to feed on.

Some of the mold on the surface might be killed but the roots of the mold are left intact meaning the mold soon returns, leaving you in a cycle of repeated bleaching. Perhaps this is why some people believe that spraying bleach on mold doesn't affect it but instead just bleaches its color so you can no longer see it.

Another disadvantage of bleach is that it can damage the materials it's used on as it is a harsh, corrosive chemical. Chlorine bleach also gives off harsh fumes and it even produces toxic gas when mixed with ammonia. There are safer alternatives such as borax or vinegar which don't produce dangerous fumes or leave behind toxic residue. For these reasons try to avoid using bleach and if you must use it, only use it on non-porous surfaces.

Mold Removal with Borax
There are many advantages to using borax to kill mold. For starters, borax is a natural cleaning product and although it is toxic if you swallow it, borax does not emit chemicals or dangerous fumes like some other mold killers. Borax, a white mineral powder, has a pH level of about 9 (baking soda is pH 8.1 and pH 7 is neutral) and a low toxicity.

Borax is commonly used as a deodorizer as well as for cleaning toilets and drains. Borax is also used as an insecticide, herbicide and fungicide and it can be mixed with water in a solution to kill and remove mold as it is a natural mold inhibitor. You can buy borax in supermarkets for a few dollars from the laundry section.

How to Kill Mold with Borax

  1. To kill mold using borax, create a borax-water solution using a ratio of 1 cup of borax per gallon of water.
  2. Vacuum up any loose mold with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner to lessen the number of spores stirred up into the air during the cleaning process.
  3. Use a scrubbing brush with the borax-water solution to scrub the mold off the surface.
  4. Wipe up any extra moisture and excess mold particles or dust/debris to prevent them spreading into the air once the surface has dried.
  5. You don't need to rinse off the borax as the solution will prevent more mold beginning to grow on the surface again.
  6. Leave the surface to dry completely.

Mold Removal with Vinegar

Vinegar is a mild acid which can kill 82% of mold species. However it also has the advantages of being natural and safe. Vinegar is non-toxic and doesn't give off dangerous fumes like bleach does.

How to Kill Mold with Vinegar

To kill mold with vinegar, use white distilled vinegar which you can buy cheaply from the supermarket.

  1. Pour some vinegar into a spray bottle without watering it down.
  2. Spray the vinegar onto the moldy surface and leave it to sit for an hour.
  3. Wipe clean the area with water and allow the surface to dry. Any smell from the vinegar should clear within a few hours.

If you want to use vinegar to prevent mold growing on surfaces just spray vinegar on the surface and leave it. Repeat this every few days to ensure the surface will stay mold-free. You can even mop your tiled bathroom floor or other hard non-porous floors with vinegar if you are worried about mold growing on them. 

Mold Removal with Ammonia
Like bleach, ammonia will kill mold on hard non-porous surfaces such as counter tops, glass or tiles but it is ineffective at killing mold growing in porous material such as wood or drywall.

Another disadvantage of using ammonia is that it is a harsh, toxic chemical. Make sure you never mix ammonia with bleach because the gas they create when combined is toxic. Chlorine mixed with ammonia was even used as a chemical weapon during World War 2.

Additionally, although ammonia can kill surface mold, dead mold and dead mold spores are still allergenic so you will need to make sure to remove them afterwards.

How to Kill Mold with Ammonia

  1. To kill mold using ammonia, create a solution of 50% clear ammonia and 50% water in a spray bottle and spray it on moldy areas.
  2. Make sure the ammonia you use says "clear ammonia" on the label.
  3. Leave the area for a few hours before wiping and rinsing.
  4. Often detergents or mold cleaning products will contain ammonia. In that case just follow the directions on the label and be sure never to mix it with bleach.

Mold Removal with Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide kills mold as it is anti-fungal as well as anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Hydrogen peroxide is a good alternative to chlorine bleach because it is safe to use and doesn't damage the environment, nor does it leave behind toxic residue or produce toxic fumes like chlorine bleach does. You can buy hydrogen peroxide from drug stores for around one dollar for a bottle of 3% concentration.

Hydrogen peroxide kills mold effectively on many materials such as clothes, floors, bathroom fixtures, walls and items such as kitchen appliances. Since hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent it may also help fade the stain mold leaves behind. Spot test hydrogen peroxide on the material you're going to be cleaning to make sure it won't fade the material's colors.

How to Kill Mold with Hydrogen Peroxide

  1. To kill mold pour 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle.
  2. Spray the moldy surface completely so that the moldy areas are saturated with hydrogen peroxide.
  3. Leave the surface to sit for 10 minutes while the hydrogen peroxide kills the mold.
  4. Then scrub the area to make sure to remove all the mold and mold stains.
  5. Finally wipe the surface down to remove residual mold and spores.

You can also use vinegar with hydrogen peroxide during the cleaning to more effectively remove the mold. Afterwards store the spray bottle in a dark place since light diminishes hydrogen peroxide's effectiveness.


Mold Removal with Detergent and Water
A solution of detergent and warm water can be used to scrub surface mold off non-porous surfaces. Although detergent itself doesn't kill mold, if the mold is on non-porous materials then the solution doesn't need to kill it as long as you completely clean away all the mold on the surface.

Mold Removal with Baking Soda

Baking soda is well known as a natural and safe household cleaner. But you can also use baking soda to kill mold in your home. Unlike other mold killers which contain harsh chemicals, baking soda is mild (pH of 8.1) and harmless to your family and any pets.

Besides killing mold, baking soda also deodorizes and so using it can get rid of the smell mold leaves in your home. Baking soda also absorbs moisture to help keep mold away.

Vinegar is often used along with baking soda when cleaning up a mold problem since vinegar kills different species of mold to baking soda.

How to Kill Mold with Baking Soda

  1. Add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda to a spray bottle of water.
  2. Shake the bottle to dissolve the baking soda into the water.
  3. Spray the moldy area with the baking soda and water solution.
  4. Then use a sponge or scrubbing brush to make sure to remove all the mold from the surface.
  5. Once you've scrubbed away the mold rinse the surface with water to remove any residual mold on the surface.
  6. Spray the area with the spray bottle again and let the surface dry. This will kill any left over mold and prevent the mold returning.

You can use a cloth instead of a spray bottle to clean mold with baking soda:

  1. Soak a cloth in water and then add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda to it.
  2. Use the cloth on the moldy area to remove the mold with the baking soda and water solution.

Mold Removal with Tea Tree Oil

Of all the natural mold killing solutions tea tree oil is the most effective. Although it is also expensive, a small amount of tea tree oil goes a long way in killing mold.

Tea tree oil is an essential oil which is harmless to people and pets. Tea tree oil is anti fungal, capable of killing all types of molds. Tea tree oil is antibacterial as well.

You can buy tea tree oil for about $10 for a small bottle from most natural food stores. Make sure the tea tree oil you buy is derived from the Melaleuca Alternifolia, which is the technical name for tea tree, as not all brands always are.

How to Kill Mold with Tea Tree Oil

  1. To kill mold using tea tree oil add water to a spray bottle, keeping in mind how many cups it takes to fill the bottle.
  2. Next add tea tree oil at the ratio of 1 teaspoon per cup of water that went into the spray bottle.
  3. Spray the solution on the moldy surface.
  4. There is no need to rinse since leaving the tea tree oil on the surface will kill the mold and prevent it from returning.

An alternative to using a spray bottle is to use a rag or cloth with the tea tree oil solution to clean away mold:

  1. First create a solution of tea tree oil and water in the ratio of 1 teaspoon per cup of water.
  2. Use a cloth to apply the solution to the moldy surface and scrub the mold away.
  3. Again, you do not need to rinse the surface afterwards.

Tea tree oil has a strong smell but it will go away after some time. You can keep and use the solution you have made for a long time afterwards as tea tree oil does not lose its potency quickly.

Mold Removal with Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract is similar to tea tree oil in that it is an expensive but very effective natural mold killer. The advantage of grapefruit seed extract over tea tree oil however is that it has almost no odor. Like tea tree oil you can buy grape fruit seed extract from most health food stores.

Grapefruit seed extract kills mold naturally as the citric acid from the grapefruit attacks mold. Grapefruit seed extract also disinfects areas and deodorizes as well. Like tea tree oil, a small amount of grapefruit seed extract goes a long way in killing mold.

How to Kill Mold with Grapefruit Seed Extract

  1. To kill mold with grapefruit seed extract create a solution of grapefruit seed extract and water in a spray bottle in the ratio of 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract per cup of water.
  2. Shake the spray bottle to mix the solution thoroughly and then spray it onto the surface where mold is growing.
  3. You do not need to rinse the solution away afterwards although you can use a cloth to wipe away the mold and solution after some minutes if you like. The longer grapefruit seed extract is in contact with mold the more it will cut through and kill the mold colony and prevent mold from returning.
  4. Repeat if needed to more thoroughly remove mold from the surface.

The grapefruit seed extract solution in the spray bottle will remain potent for a long time and can be reused again and again as grapefruit seed extract has a long shelf life.

Common Mold Types

Below is a list of the most common types of mold found in the United States. This is not a complete list of mold species, nor all of the types that are present in the US. They are the most dominant types found in nature and in contaminated properties.



Alternaria

Alternaria belongs to a Division of the fungi called the Deuteromycota. The word means "neuter fungi" and they are called this because they have no sexual spore stage (meiospores). It grows rapidly and the colony size reaches a diameter of 3 to 9 cm following incubation at 25°C for 7 days on potato glucose agar*. The colony is flat, downy to woolly and is covered by grayish, short, aerial hyphae in time. The surface is grayish white at the beginning which later darkens and becomes greenish black or olive brown with a light border. The reverse side is typically brown to black due to pigment production.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Plants and Wood
  • Food
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
  • Common pathogen for those in an immunocompromised/immunosuppressed state
  • Phaeohyphomycosis
  • Onychomycosis
  • Sinusitis
  • Visceral infections
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Alternariol (AOH)
  • Alternariol monomethylether (AME)
  • Tenauazonic acid (TeA)
  • Altenuene (ALT)
  • Altertoxins (ATX)
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Arthrinium

Arthrinium is a mold that lacks a known sexual state. It grows rapidly, reaching a colony size of 3 to 9 cm in diameter following incubation at 25°C for 7 days on potato glucose agar*. The colonies are woolly to cottony and white with brown spots on the surface.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Plants
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Others unknown
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Terpestacin
  • 3-nitropropionic acid (NPA)
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Ascospore

Ascospores are produced in a sac-like structure called an ascus. Ascus is spore-bearing cell of the fungi classification Ascomycota, which covers a huge number of fungi genera around the world.
Natural Habitat
  • Everywhere in nature
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Insects
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Varies; depends on specific species
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Others unknown
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Varies; depends on specific species
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Aspergillus

Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common species of Aspergillus. Aspergillus fumigatus colonies grow rapidly. On potato dextrose agar* at 25°C are smoky gray-green with a slight yellow reverse. Some isolates may display a lavender diffusible pigment. Very mature colonies turn slate gray. Texture is woolly to cottony to somewhat granular. Atypical isolates may remain white with little conidiation. It likes high temperatures and its optimum temperature for growth is about 37°C (blood temperature). It is not surprising, therefore, that it is also known as a parasite of humans, other mammals and birds.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Plants
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies/flu and cold-like symptoms
  • Excessive fatigue and lethargy
  • Dermatitis
  • Impaired or altered immune function
  • Common pathogen for those in an immunocompromised/immunosuppressed state
  • Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is common in asthmatic persons or those with lung disease
  • Aspergillus sinusitis
  • Toxicoses
  • Several others
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Several
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling


Aureobasidium

Aureobasidium pullulans is the only well-known species of Aureobasidium. It grows moderately rapidly and matures within 7 days of incubation. The colony diameter is 1 to 3 cm following incubation at 25°C for 7 days on potato glucose agar*. The colonies are flat, smooth, moist, yeast-like, mucoid to pasty, shiny and leathery in appearance. The surface is white, pale pink or yellow at the beginning and becomes brown to black and velvety with a grayish fringe by aging. Reverse is pale or black.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Plants and wood
  • Water
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Rain/water
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Keratomycosis
  • Phaehyphomycosis
  • Pulmonary mycosis with sepsis
  • Dermatitis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Unknown
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Basidiospore

Basidiospores are sexually produced fungal spore that is born on basidium. A basidium typically bears four basidiospores.
Natural Habitat
  • Plants
  • Lawns
  • Forest ground
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Amanitins
  • monomethyl-hydrazine
  • muscarine
  • ibotenic acid
  • psilocybin
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Bipolaris / Drechslera Group

Bipolaris colonies grow rapidly, reaching a diameter of 3 to 9 cm following incubation at 25°C for 7 days on potato dextrose agar*. The colony becomes mature within 5 days. The texture is velvety to woolly. The surface of the colony is initially white to grayish brown and becomes olive green to black with a raised grayish periphery as it matures. The reverse is also darkly pigmented and olive to black in color.
Natural Habitat
  • Plants
  • Soil
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Cerebral infections/brain abscess
  • Peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
  • Mycotic keratitis
  • Subcutaneous phaehyphomycosis (in both normal and immunocompromised people)
  • Allergic and chronic invasive sinusitis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Sterigmatocystin
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Botrytis

Botrytis cinerea is the most common species of Botrytis. It is a very common plant parasitic found on weakened plant tissues. It grows rapidly, reaching a colony size of 3 to 9 cm in diameter, following incubation at 25°C for 7 days on potato glucose agar*. The texture is woolly. The surface color is white at the beginning and becomes gray to brown in time. Dark spots may be observed on the surface of the colony. Reverse is dark.
Natural Habitat
  • Plants; houseplants, fruits, and vegetables are the most common
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Rain/water
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Unknown
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Chaetomium

Chaetomium contains several species. The most common are Chaetomium atrobrunneum, Chaetomium funicola, Chaetomium globosum, and Chaetomium strumarium. Its colonies are rapidly growing, cottony and white in color initially. Mature colonies become gray to olive in color. From the reverse, the color is tan to red or brown to black.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Plant debris
  • Dung
  • Seeds
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Insects
  • Rain/water
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma
    Onychomycosis
  • Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis/brain abscess
  • Peritonitis
  • Cutaneous lesions
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Chaetomin
  • Chaetoglobosins A,B,D and F are produced by Chaetomium globosum
  • Sterigmatocystin is produced by rare species
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Cladosporium

The most common species of Cladosporium include Cladosporium elatum, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and Cladosporium cladosporioides. The growth rate of Cladosporium colonies is moderate on potato dextrose agar* at 25°C and the texture is velvety to powdery. Similar to the other dematiaceous fungi, the color is olivaceous green to black from the front and black from the reverse. Most of the Cladosporium spp. do not grow at temperatures above 35°C.
Natural Habitat
  • Dead plant matter
  • Soil
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Edema
  • Keratitis
  • Onychomycosis
  • Pulmonary infections
  • Sinusitis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Cladosporin
  • Emodin
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Curvularia

Curvularia contains several species. Curvularia lunata is the most prevalent cause of disease in humans and animals. Curvularia produces rapidly growing, woolly colonies on potato dextrose agar* at 25°C. From the front, the color of the colony is white to pinkish gray initially and turns to olive brown or black as the colony matures. From the reverse, it is dark brown to black.
Natural Habitat
  • Plants
  • Soil
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Immunocompromised/immunosuppressed persons are at a greater risk of adverse health issues
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Phaeohyphomycosis
  • Endocarditis
  • Mycetoma
  • Ocular keratitis
  • Onychomycosis
  • Pneumonia
  • Dialysis-associated peritonitis
  • Allergic bronchopulmonary disease
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Cytochalasin B
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Epicoccum

Epicoccum contains a single species, Epicoccum purpurascens. Epicoccum grows rapidly and produces woolly to cottony or felty colonies on potato dextrose agar* at 25°C. From the front, the colonies are yellow to orange, orange to red or pink initially and become greenish brown to black by aging. From the reverse, the same color is observed but is usually more intense than in the front view. Epicoccum may produce a diffusible pigment which turns the color of the inoculated medium to yellow, orange, red or brown. Black dots may be observed macroscopically on the colony surface. These are the tufts of hyphae which have conidiophores on their surface. These tufts of hyphae are cushion-shaped and non convoluted and are called sporodochia.
Natural Habitat
  • Plant debris
  • Soil
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Epicorazine A&B
  • Flavipin
  • Indole-3-acetonitrile
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Fusarium

Fusarium contains several species. The most common of these are Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium chlamydosporum. Fusarium spp. grow rapidly on Sabouraud dextrose agar* at 25°C and produce woolly to cottony, flat, spreading colonies. The only slow-growing species is Fusarium dimerum. From the front, the color of the colony may be white, cream, tan, salmon, cinnamon, yellow, red, violet, pink, or purple. From the reverse, it may be colorless, tan, red, dark purple, or brown.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Plants
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Insects
  • Rain/water
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Immunocompromised/immunosuppressed persons are at a greater risk of adverse health issues
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Keratitis
  • Endophthalmitis
  • Onychomycosis
  • Cutaneous infections
  • Mycetoma
  • Sinusitis
  • Pulmonary infections
  • Endocarditis
  • Peritonitis
  • Septic arthritis
  • Central venous catheter infections
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Cutaneous infections in burn victims
  • Esophageal cancer
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Trichothecenes
  • Zearalenone
  • Fumonisins
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Memnoniella

Myrothecium echinata is considered a powerful cellulolytic cellulose decomposer. It is very similar to Stachybotrys, except it produces its spores in chains.
Natural Habitat
  • Plants
  • Soil
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies/flu and cold-like symptoms
  • Dermatitis
  • Impaired or altered immune function
  • Considered to be a possible cause respiratory diseases
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Dechlorogriseofulvin
  • Epidechlorogriseofulvin
  • Griseofulvins
  • Memnopeptide A
  • Trichodermol
  • Trichodermin
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Myrothecium

Myrothecium verrucaria is the most common species in the Myrothecium genus. It is considered a powerful cellulose decomposer.
Natural Habitat
  • Dead agaric mushrooms
  • Grass/weeds
  • Soil
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Insects
  • Water
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Unknown
Potential Health Effects
  • Unknown
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Trichothecene mycotoxins
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Nigrospora

Nigrospora sphaerica is the most well-known species of the genus Nigrospora. Nigrospora grows rapidly and produces woolly colonies on potato dextrose agar* at 25°C. The colonies mature within 4 days. Color of the colony is white initially and then becomes gray with black areas and turns to black eventually from both front and reverse. Sporulation may take more than 3 weeks for some isolates.
Natural Habitat
  • Grass/weeds
  • Soil
  • Seeds
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Keratitis
  • Skin lesions
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Unknown
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Penicillium

Penicillium is one of the most commonly occurring fungi. The colonies of Penicillium other than Penicillium marneffei are rapid growing, flat, filamentous, and velvety, woolly, or cottony in texture. The colonies are initially white and become blue green, gray green, olive gray, yellow or pinkish in time. The plate reverse is usually pale to yellowish.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Seeds
  • Cereal crops
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Insects
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Rarely; typically encountered in immunosuppressed hosts
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Penicilliosis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Several
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Pithomyces

Pithomyces is generally classified as a dematiaceous (dark-walled) fungus. The surface of these spores ranges from smooth, to slightly rough with small pointed projections, to warty with large, wide projections.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Plants
  • Tree bark
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Unknown
Potential Health Effects
  • Etiologic agent in immunocompromised patients
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Cyclodepsipeptides
  • Sporidesmin
  • Sporidesmolides
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Rusts

There are 5000 known species of rusts belonging to at least 150 different genera. Rusts are considered a parasite to many types of plants and the cause of great economic loss for cultivated crops.
Natural Habitat
  • Living plants
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Unknown
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Unknown
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling


Smuts, Periconia, Myxomycetes

Considered plant parasites. Often found with dust. These three types of fungi are linked when testing because of their similarities and the difficulty in distinguishing them from each other.
Natural Habitat
  • Grass/weeds
  • Soil
  • Cereal crops
  • Dung
  • Decaying plant or wood
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind
  • Rain/water
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Periconia circinata produces Periconin A and Periconin B (both are biologically inactive)
  • Others unknown
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Stachybotrys

There is only one species of Stachybotrys, Stachybotrys chartarum. It has been nicknamed the "black mold" or "toxic mold" by the media. Stachybotrys produces cottony, rapidly growing colonies which mature in about 4 days. From both front and reverse, the color of the colony is white initially and turns to black by aging.
Natural Habitat
  • Decaying plants
  • Soil
  • Seeds
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Water/rain
  • Insects
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies/flu and cold-like symptoms
  • Excessive fatigue and lethargy
  • Dermatitis
  • Impaired or altered immune function
  • Considered to be a possible cause of acute idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases
  • Toxicoses
  • Several others
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Cyclosporins
  • Macrocyclic trichothecenes: roridin E, satratoxin F, G & H, sporidesmin G, trichoverrol, verrucarin J
  • Stachybotryolactone
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Stemphylium

The most common species of Stemphylium is Stemphylium macrosporoideum. Colonies of Stemphylium grow rapidly and mature in 5 days. At 25°C and on potato dextrose agar*, they are velvety to cottony in texture. From the front, the color is gray, brown, or brownish-black. Reverse is black.
Natural Habitat
  • Dead plants
  • Wood
  • Spinach leaf
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Possible links to phaeohyphomycosis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Stemphol
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Torula

Torula is a genus of wild yeasts that are imperfect and never form sexual spores. It is generally classified as a dematiaceous (dark-walled) fungus.
Natural Habitat
  • Leaves
  • Soil
  • Wood
  • Plant roots
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Possible links to phaeohyphomycosis
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Unknown
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Ulocladium

Ulocladium has two species under it, Ulocladium chartarum and Ulocladium botrytis. Colonies of Ulocladium grow moderately rapidly. At 25°C and on potato dextrose agar*, the colonies are wooly to cottony. From the front and the reverse, the color is olive brown to black.
Natural Habitat
  • Soil
  • Decaying plants
  • Wood
  • Dung
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Phaeohyphomycosis
  • Subcutaneous infections
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Unknown
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling



Zygomycetes

Zygomycetes is a class of fungus, not a particular genre. The classes include three orders, Mucorales, Mortierellales, and Entomophthorales. This class of fungi are extremely fast growing and can inhibit other fungi when competing for food or space.
Natural Habitat
  • Decaying plants and animals
Methods of Spore Dispersion
  • Wind/air
  • Water
  • Direct contact
Potential Allergenic
  • Yes
Potential Health Effects
  • Asthma/hay fever/allergies
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Zygomycosis in immunocompromised persons
Potential Mycotoxins Produced
  • Varies by genus
Identifiable Through Testing
  • Yes; air and surface sampling

* Using potato glucose/dextrose agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar are common laboratory method for studying mold growth and other behaviors.
Note: This library lists the common types of mold found during testing, their most common natural habitat, the means of their dispersion/dissemination, if they're considered a potential allergenic, their potential health effects, and other information. Side effects of mold exposure will vary from person to person. The information presented here is based upon medical and scientific findings from a variety of sources. The effects of mold as it relates to human health has been studied and studies are continuing.
New Day Homes specializes in Mold Inspections in the Magnolia Texas area.