Types of Mold In Southern Indiana & Louisville area

TYPES OF MOLD

Alternaria-Extremely widespread and common spore, common in soil, dead plants and foodstuff.  It is often found indoors growing on cellulosic materials and as settled dust on carpets, textiles,etc.  Potential opportunistic human pathogen.  Commonly recognized as type I(Hayfever) and type III hypersensitivity pneumontis.

Epicoccum- A common allergen found in plants, soil, grains, textiles, and paper products, secondary invader of damaged plant tissue.   Common cause of type I allergies ( Hayfever, asthma) No cases of infection have been reported in humans or animals.

Basidiospores-  Spores from one of the major groups of fungi that include mushrooms like the shelf fungi, puffballs and common button mushrooms sold in grocery stores.  Most spores produced from this group of fungi have not been found to be allergenic  or toxic.

Penicillium/Aspergillus- This group is considered common to indoor environments, it is widesrpead in the soil and on plants and is also considered a common contaminant of food.  It has a musty odor.  It is commonly being implicated in pulmonary disease in immunocompromised hosts.  It has also been reported to cause skin infections many species produce mycotoxins, which may be associated with disease in humans and other animals.  Toxin production is dependent on the strain  or on the food source on which it grows.  Some of these toxins have been found to be carcinogenic in animal species.  Several toxins are considered potential human carcinogens.

Stachybotrys-  This is a slow growing, dark mold that grows well on cellulosic (paper-containging) building materials.  It can produce a number of different macrocyclic trichothecenes that have been described as being toxic to humans and animals.  Individuals with chronic flu like symptoms, sore throats, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, itching and burning sensations of the eyes and nose and general malaise.  This mold is rarely found in outdoor samples and it is usually not found in indoor air samples unless the colony is physically disturbed

Eurotium-  Rarely considered a human pathogen, rarely found in the air and is a slow growing fungus that requires low moisture availability.  Common in the natural environment.

Chaetomium-  Common everywhere growing on dung, dead leaves, wood.  Likes cellulose substrates, especially wallboard and wood.  Commonly associated with type I (hay fever and asthma) allergies, uncommonly seen infecting humans but some cases have been reported mostly on immuno compromised persons.  Produces chaetoglobosins and rarely sterigomatocystin

Smuts-  Commonly  found everywhere especially on logs, grasses and weeds.  Smuts don’t normally grow indoors but can occasionally be found on things brought from outside and stored in the house.  Myzomycetes can occasionally grow indoors but need lots of water to be established.  Type I (Hay fever and asthma) allergies,  smuts and myzomycetes are a combined group of organisms because their spores look so similar and cannot be reliably distinquished from each other.

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History Of Mold

In Biblical times, it was known that indoor mold could be a health concern. Mold was identified as the cause of mysterious deaths of farm animals in the 1930′s. “Stachybotrys chartarum” was found growing on wet grain used for feeding animals. The industry now calls for greater regulations and keeps a better watch on the contamination of grains that are fed to animals. In the 1970′s, homes became more air tight and they began being built with drywall instead of plaster. Although the tighter the home, the less of an energy bill, this tightness does not allow the home to breathe creating more suitable conditions for mold to start growing. Usually, if you take care of the moisture problem your home has you will eliminate the likelihood of the mold concerns. Mold is an actual plant that thrives on wet conditions. Some types of mold are harmful and are capable of creating health problems. Other types of mold are beneficial to humans like the drug penicillin or in the consumption of food such as mushrooms and aged cheese.

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