Types of Mold
Acremonium (ack-ruh-moan'-ee-um)
Outdoors: Found on soils, decaying organic matter, hay and as contaminants on agricultural products. Is present world-wide
Characteristics: Asexual state of Emericellopsis sp., Chaetomuim sp., and Nectripsis sp.Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
Toxins: Several species are capable of producing toxins with immune and neurological effects.
Health Effects: Can produce mycetomas, infections of the cornea and nails. Often implicated as the casual agent of sinus infections. Infection sites for susceptible individuals vary widely. Individuals have complained of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Notes: There are approximately 90 species identified. Some species produce toxic compounds that are used as antibiotics. May produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may result in an unpleasant odor. (Back to top ^)
Alternaria (all-tur-nair'-ee-uh)
Outdoors: Found on soils, decaying organic matter, seed, and as a pathogen of plants. World-wide distribution.
Contamination: Possible contaminant on almost any outdoor or indoor surface. This fungi is prevalent within carpets, textiles, painted wood, and well-lighted areas such as window frames and exterior siding.
Allergen: Very common allergen.
Toxins: Alternaria alternata is capable of producing tenuazonic acid and other toxic metabolites including cytotoxic and mutagenic which may be associated with disease in humans or animals.
Health Effects: Can produce infections in susceptible individuals such as skin, hair and nails. Other infection sites involve the eye, ear, sinuses and bone. Has been associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Common cause of extrinsicasthma. May be related to bakers' asthma. Acute symptoms including edema and bronchiospasms, chronic cases may develop pulmonary emphysema.
Notes: There are approximately 50 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Aspergillus (as-per-jill-us)
Outdoors: Found on soils, decaying organic matter, compost and as contaminants of agricultural products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent under a variety of moisture conditions as a contaminant on almost any outdoor or indoor surface. May produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that will result in unpleasant odors.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: May produce several toxins with cytotoxic and carcinogenic effects. Other toxic and non-toxic compounds have important industrial uses.
Health Effects: Can produce infections in lungs, skin, sinuses, blood vessels eyes, ears and invasive disease. Other infection sites for susceptible individuals may vary widely. The species Aspergillus atra has been linked to cancer.
Notes: There are approximately 200 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Aureobasidium (are-ee-oh-buh-syd'-ee-um)
Outdoors: Found in soils, wood, plant tissues and aquatic habitats. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent under moist conditions or within standing water (i.e. flooded homes) a common contaminant on tiles, shower curtains and areas with high condensation.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Although rarely implicated in human disease, skin, nail and eye infections have been reported.
Notes: There are approximately 15 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Bipolaris (bi-po-lare-ris)
Outdoors: Found in soils, plants (especially grasses) and organic matter. World-wide in distribution.Contamination: Possible contaminant on almost any outdoor or indoor surface.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Some species produce sterigmatocystin, a mycotoxin shown to cause kidney and liver damage when ingested by laboratory animals.Health Effects: Although rarely implicated in human disease, skin, nail and eye infections have been reported.
Notes: There are approximately 45 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Botrytis (bow-try-tus)
Outdoors: Is commonly found on decaying plant material or as plant pathogens and contaminants on agricultural products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Rarely associated with significant contamination. Airborne spores may reflect occurrence on indoor plants. Parasitic on plants and soft fruits. Found in soil and vegetables.
Allergen: Possibly associated with allergy symptoms.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Although rarely implicated in human disease, but infections of the eyes have been reported.Notes: There are approximately 30 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Chaetomium (key-toe-me-um)
Outdoors: Is commonly found in soil, dung, decaying organic matter, seeds, and wood or other cellulose materials. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Common on many indoor surfaces, especially on material containing cellulose. Prevalent within carpets, cardboard, paper and sheetrock.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Some species produce sterigmatocystin, a mycotoxin shown to cause kidney and liver damage in laboratory animals.
Health Effects: Not a common pathogen in humans. Skin and nail infections have been reported.
Notes: There are approximately 100 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Chrysosporium (cry-so-spore-ee um)
Outdoors: Is commonly found in soil, dung, decaying organic matter, seeds and wood or other cellulose materials. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Possible contaminant on almost any indoor or outdoor surfaces, including wood, paper, cardboard, leather, sheetrock and certain textiles.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Some species produce sterigmatocystin, a mycotoxin shown to cause kidney and liver damage in laboratory animals.
Health Effects: Rare skin and nail infections have been reported. (Back to top ^)
Cladosporium (clad-oh-spore-ee-um)
Outdoors: Is commonly found in soil, dung, decaying organic matter, seeds, and wood or other cellulose materials. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent on a wide variety of substrates, including wood, textiles, painted surfaces, carpets, and within air duct liners. May produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that will result in noticeable odors.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: May produce a variety of toxic metabolites, including antibiotic compounds. Also known to produce toxic levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Health Effects: Although rare, this fungus may cause infections of the eye, skin and respiratory system. Subcutaneous infections resulting from puncture wounds are more common.
Notes: There are approximately 40 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Epicoccum (epp-ee-cock'-um)
Outdoors: Is commonly found in soils, water, decaying plant matter. Also frequently reported from outdoor air samples. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Possible contaminant on almost any outdoor or indoor surface.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Several antibiotic compounds have been identified, but these substances are not typically toxic to humans.
Health Effects: Not a known human pathogen. (Back to top ^)
Fusarium (few-sarh-ee-um)
Outdoors: Found in soils and as saprobes and pathogens of crops, flowers and other plants.
Contamination: Possible contaminant on almost any outdoor or indoor surface. This fungus is especially prevalent in moist areas. Frequently isolated from humidifiers.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: May produce several toxins with cytotoxic and carcinogenic effects.
Health Effects: Causes hemorrhagic syndrome (alimentary toxic aleukia) characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis, and internal bleeding. Also implicated in eye, ear, skin, nail and systemic infections.
Notes: There are approximately 70 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Geotrichum (gee-oh-trick-um)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils, water, plants, and on/within various animals, including humans. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: This fungus is a common contaminant of dairy products, post-harvest crops, moist building materials and a variety of textiles.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Although rarely pathogenic in humans, inflammation of the heart cavity linings (endocarditis); inflammation of the brain (encephalitis); and respiratory infections have been reported. (Back to top ^)
Gliocladium (glee-oh-clay'-dee-um)
Outdoors: This fungus is found in soils, plants and other decaying organic matter. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Possible contaminant on almost any outdoor or indoor surface. Difficult to detect by air samplers due to the gelatinous nature of the spore mass.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Not a significant producer of mycotoxins.
Health Effects: Not a known human pathogen. (Back to top ^)
Histoplasma (his-toe-plaz-ma)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils contaminated with bird and bat feces. World-wide in distribution, it is particularly prevalent in tropical areas. Within the United States, Histoplasma is common along the Ohio, Tennessee, and lower Mississippi River Valleys.
Contamination: Not a common indoor contaminant. May contaminate outdoor areas where large numbers of birds and bats congregate.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Histoplasma capsulatum is the causative agent of histoplamosis a pulmonary disease that can become systemic. Also known as Darling's Disease or Ohio Valley Disease. (Back to top ^)
Mucor (mhew'-core)
Outdoors: Found in soils and as saprobes on plants and dung. Also common contaminant on stored and processed food products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Common on most outdoor and indoor surfaces, especially in water-damaged or moist building materials.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Although rare, this fungus may cause infections of the eyes, sinuses, brain, skin and respiratory system.
Notes: There are approximately 50 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Myxomycetes (mix-o-my-sea'-teas)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found on leaves, twigs and logs in heavily forested areas. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Not a common indoor contaminant, but various species are often a contaminant on wood products, including wood mulch.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Not a known human pathogen.Notes: There are approximately 45 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Paecilomyces (pay-sill-oh-my-sees)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils, decaying organic matter, compost, and as a contaminant of agriculteral products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Contaminant on a wide variety of substrates. Many species show high resistance to mildewcides or other compounds that inhibit mold growth.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: May produce compounds with varying degrees of toxicity.
Health Effects: Although rare, this fungus may cause infections of the eye, skin and respiratory system. Systemic infections may occur in compromised individuals.
Notes: There are approximately 20 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Penicillium (pen-uh-sill'-ee-um)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils, decaying organic matter, compost, and as a pathogen of agricultural products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent on a wide variety of indoor substrates, including textiles, wallpaper, painted surfaces, carpets, oils, fuels and within air duct liners. May produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that will result in noticeable odors.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Several species produce toxins with cytotoxic and carcinogenic effects. Other toxic and non-toxic compounds have important industrial uses (e.g. antimicrobial compounds).
Health Effects: Although rare, this fungus may cause eye infections, peritonitis and systemic disease may occur in compromised individuals.
Notes: There are approximately 200 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Phoma (pho-ma)
Outdoors: Found in soils and on various plants. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent on a wide variety of outdoor or indoor surfaces, including building textiles, painted surfaces, ceiling tiles, sheetrock, wallpaper and cement.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown
Health Effects: Implicated in eye infections and cutaneous or subcutaneous lesions. Other infection sites for susceptible individuals may vary.
Notes: There are approximately 80 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Rhizomucor (rye-zo-mhew'-core)
Outdoors: This fungus is found in soil sand as saprobes on plants and dung. Also a common contaminant on stored and processed food products.World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Although not as common as other molds, species may be found on various substrates, especially on moist building materials.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: This fungus may cause infections of the eyes, skin, brain, sinuses, and lungs. Infection sites for compromised individuals may vary. (Back to top ^)
Rhizopus (rye-zo-puss)
Outdoors: A common fungus found in soils, dung, decaying fruits and vegetables, compost and as contaminants and parasites of crops. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent on a wide variety of indoor substrates, especially moist or recently flooded building materials.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: This fungus is the primary cause of zygomycosis. Infections sites include eyes, skin, sinuses, brain, and respiratory system. Infection sites for compromised individuals may vary.
Notes: There are approximately 12 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Sporobolomyces (spore-rob-o-low-my-sees)
Outdoors: This fungus is a member of the Basidiomyctes (e.g. mushrooms) which is common on leaves, rotting fruit, soils and as a commensal microbe on birds and mammals. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent on a wide variety of substrates, under very moist or wet conditions or within rotting wood.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins:Unknown.
Health Effects: This fungus is implicated in Dermatitis (skin infections).
Notes: There are approximately 10 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Sporothrix (spore-o-thrucks)
Outdoors: This fungus is found on a variety of plant materials, soils, and rotting wood. Especially common on conifer trees. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent under wet or moist conditions, including wet or rotting wood, most barks, or straw.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Causal agent of sporotrichosis which includes infections of the skin, respiratory system, and joints. May also cause meningitis. (Back to top ^)
Sporotrichum (spore-o-truck-chum)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils, decaying plant matter, and wet or rotting wood.
Contamination: Prevalent under moist or wet conditions. Common contaminant of damp wood and landscaping mulch.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic. Type 1
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: This fungus may cause infections of the respiratory system, however, little is known about the pathology of this organism. (Back to top ^)
Stachybotrys (stack-ee-bought-ris)
Outdoors: A common fungus found on plant material, leaves, straw, hay, and other matter rich in cellulose. Also isolated from various soils. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent under moist conditions on building materials containing cellulose: sheetrock backing, paper, cardboard, wood, or carpets. May also grow on painted surfaces.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic. Type 1 and Type 3
Toxins: May produce several trichothecene toxins, including Satratoxins, Trichoverrol, and Cyclosporins. These toxins possess cytotoxic, immunological, carcinogenic effects.
Health Effects: Adult symptoms: adverse effects on the central nervous system, eyes, skin, and upper and lower respiratory tract, and possibly, chronic fatigue. Other adult symptoms are immune suppression, bleeding and adverse reproduction effects. This toxin-producing organism should be considered a potential health hazard.
Notes: There are approximately 10 species identified. NOTE: For more information on Stachybotrys Chartarum, visit this link: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/stachy.htm (Back to top ^)
Stemphylium (stem-figh-lee-hum)
Outdoors: Common fungus found on leaves and other plant material. Also found in soils, wood, and as a pathogen of various plants. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent on a wide variety of substrates, including wood, textiles, painted surfaces, carpets, and within air duct liners. May produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that will result in noticeable odors.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic. Type 1.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Although rarely found indoors, contamination has been recorded on moist wood, air filters, and dust samples. Presence is most likely related to spore deposition from outdoor air.
Notes: There are approximately 6 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Trichoderma (trick-oh-derm-uh)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils, decaying organic matter, wood, compost, and as a contaminant of agriculteral products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent under a wide range of moisture conditions on almost any outdoor or indoor surface. Particularly common of cellulose-rich materials.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic. Type 1 and Type 3.
Toxins: May produce a variety of trichothecenes and cyclic peptide toxins. Also produces antibiotic compounds.
Health Effects: Implicated in various types of respiratory disorders. Other infection sites for susceptible individuals vary widely.
Notes: There are approximately 20 species identified. (Back to top ^)
Trichothecium (thrick-oh-thei-see-um)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils, decaying organic matter, wood, compost, and as a contaminant of agriculteral products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: Prevalent under a wide range of moisture conditions on almost any outdoor or indoor surface.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Not a known human pathogen (Back to top ^)
Ulocladium (you-low-clay-dee-um)
Outdoors: Extremely common fungus found in soils, decaying organic matter, wood, dung, compost, and as a contaminant of agricultural products. World-wide in distribution.
Contamination: A common contaminant of sheetrock, painted surfaces, paper, cardboard, carpets, and a variety of textiles.
Allergen: Known to be allergenic.
Toxins: Unknown.
Health Effects: Implicated in cutaneous and subcutaneous infections. Other infection sites for susceptible individuals vary widely.
Notes: There are approximately 10 species identified. (Back to top ^)