Common Types of Dangerous Toxic Mold Species
ALTERNARIA ASPERGILLUS AUREOBASIDIUM BIPOLARIS CANDIDA CHAETOMIUM CLADOSPORIUM PENICILLIUM RHIZOPUS STACHYBOTRYS TELIOMYCETES TRICHODERMA |
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Refer also to the Mold Health Guide for more relevant information on mold species. |
almost
any outdoor or indoor surface. There are at least 15 varieties of
Aspergillus mold that can be found in homes and offices, and most are
allergy-inducing or toxic. May produce volatile organic compounds (VOC's)
that result in unpleasant odors. Causes Type-I and Type-III allergies. It is
implicated in numerous respiratory disorders as well as infections of the
ear, eye, and invasive disease. Other infection sites for susceptible
individuals vary widely. May produce several toxins with cytotoxic and
carcinogenic [cancer-causing] effects. At least four types of Aspergillus
are toxigenic (poisonous): (a) Aspergillus Parasiticus; (b) Aspergillus
Flavus; (c) Aspergillus Versicolor; and (d) Aspergillus Fumigatus. These
toxic Aspergillus varieties are known as aflatoxins and are the most widely
studied molds in medical research. Aflatoxins are more toxic than many known
industrial cancer causing substances, and they are acutely toxic to the
liver, brain, kidneys and heart, and with chronic exposure, are potent
carcinogens of the liver. Symptoms of acute aflatoxicosis are fever,
vomiting, coma, and convusions [from "Hazardous Molds in Homes and Offices"
on website
infections
in the human skin, nails, and eyes.
upper
respiratory tract of humans. It can cause Type-I and Type-III allergies. It
causes skin, nail, and eye infections. This fungus can produce the mycotoxin
sterigmatocystin which has been shown to produce liver and kidney damage
when ingested by laboratory.
In
recent years, the collection of problems related to this yeast has come to
be known as candida-related complex (CRC), a term coined by allergist George
Kroker, M.D. CRC embraces a variety of conditions ranging from mild to
fatal. Candida can cause infections of the vagina (candida vaginitis) and
mouth (thrush), as well as infections of the ears, nose, sinuses, fingers,
toes, tongue, throat, esophagus, and the entire digestive tract.
on
many indoor surfaces, especially on material containing cellulose. Prevalent
within carpets, cardboard, paper, and sheetrock. It can cause skin and nail
infections. Some species produce sterigmatocystin, mycotoxin shown to cause
kidney and liver damage in laboratory animals.
problems.
insulation.
It may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis and skin allergy problems. Some
species can produce poisons [mycotoxins]. It is a common cause of extrinsic
asthma. Acute symptoms include edema and bronchiospasms; chronic cases may
develop pulmonary emphysema. Penicillium is the second most dangerous mold
(after Stachybotrys) because it attacks lung tissues.
compromised
individuals. It is often linked to occupational allergy. This sites of
infection of Rhizopus are the lung, nasal sinus, brain, eye, and skin.
Infection may have multiple sites.
exposure
has caused cold and flu symptoms, fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, sore throat,
hair loss, immune system suppression, memory loss, and severe brain damage.
Whereas most mold spores can begin growing after just 24 hours of wetness,
Stachybotrys spores take at least 48 hours of wetness to begin growth.
Stachybotrys survives and grows best in a continually wet environment like a
slow water leak in a wall. Stachybotrys spores are rarely airborne. Stachy
is usually identified by direct swabs or lift tape samples of the mold
itself with laboratory analysis. When active and growing in a wet
environment, the mold can look black, shiny, slimy.
humans.
It readily degrades cellulose, and it will grow in other fungi.