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| We are also certified for mold inspections Stachybotrys Toxic Mold Black Mold Mold Inspections Mold Inspector Mold is caused when microscopic, airborne spores land on moist surfaces and spread rapidly. Molds can have useful purposes. Life-saving penicillin is derived from mold. Many foods, such as blue cheese, require mold as part of the manufacturing process. And as owners of compost piles know, mold plays an important role in the cycle of nature, helping to break down organic materials. But the molds that a growing number of builders and homeowners are encountering poses significant problems. Unchecked mold growth on interior wood, wallboard, paper, and carpet has been blamed for serious illnesses. It can be exceedingly difficult to eradicate, and has even rendered some buildings uninhabitable. All Stucco and Mold Inspections Inc. brings over 12 years expertise in water management, moisture detection, and home inspection. We are a total independant third party inspection firm working for you. A full inspection, report, and mold testing is done and then we will discuss any remediation that is needed. A list of certified remediation companies are there for you. Call us at 770 590-7880 or visit our homepage at www.allstucco.com/mold loaded with helpful information concerning mold issues. We serve Atlanta, Marietta, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Duluth, Norcross, Woodstock, Roswell, Acworth, Kennesaw, Powder Springs, and all Atlanta areas. Non-destuctive moisture testing and intrusive probing done of EIFS and synthetic stucco and hardcoat stucco homes. Call All Stucco Inspections Inc. at 770 590-7880 and talk to the man that does your inspection. *** HOT LINK FREE *** www.allstucco.com Scott Zaeske CEO Some Common Fungi and Yeasts Absidia (Zygomycetes) A common contaminant isolated from soil, air, stored grains, foods, and the indoor environment. Reported to be allergenic and a rare cause of human infection called zygomycosis. Acremonium (Hyphomycetes) Naturally found in soils, decaying organic matter, and plant debris. Can be found in food and the indoor environment. Acremonium is a common allergen, can produce a trichothecene mycotoxin, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Agrocybe (Basidiomycetes) Medium to large mushrooms growing in grassy areas, on wood mulch, and pine needles. Some species are edible. Alternaria (Hyphomycetes) A common saprobe found on decaying wood, decaying plants, food, soil, and outdoor air. Some species are plant pathogens. Indoors, it can be found in house dust, carpet, damp areas around showers and window frames, and anywhere condensation occurs. Because of its abundance and ubiquity, Alternaria is one of the most important fungal allergens and is recognized as the chief fungal cause of hay fever. Infection is extremely rare. Arthrinium (Hyphomycetes) A cosmopolitan fungus isolated from plant debris and soil. Often isolated from air near grassy places, but rarely found indoors. Not reported to cause human or animal infection. Arnium (Ascomycetes) Most commonly isolated from dung. Not generally associated with human disease and is most often considered benign. Ascomycetes Constitutes the largest class of fungi characterized by the production of sexual spores in structures called asci. This includes plant pathogens, saprobes, and decomposers. With a few exceptions, most Ascomycetes do not grow in buildings and are seldom agents of wood rot. Ascomycetes are the perfect stages of molds like Aspergillus and Penicillium. At high levels, Ascomycetes spores may cause allergies. Since most Ascomycetes are plant pathogens, ascospores are common during the growing season of plants and rare during winter, such as those of the Ascomycetes genera: Daldinia, Hypoxylon, Paraphaeosphaeria, Phaeosphaeria, and Leptosphaeria. Ascospores Sexual spores produced by Ascomycetes. Aspergillus (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Emericella (Ascomycetes), Eurotium (Ascomycetes) Found in soil, compost piles, decaying vegetation, stored grain, and other kinds of organic matter. Can be found indoors in water-damaged buildings. A few species can cause aspergillosis in humans with compromised or defective immune systems. Most people are naturally immune to this infection of the lung. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common cause of aspergillosis, followed by A. flavus and A. niger. Some species are able to produce mycotoxins, depending on the strain, substrate, and/or food source. Others species are used in the manufacture of food, such as A. oryzae or A. soyae for soy sauce. Aureobasidium (Hyphomycetes) A common saprobe frequently isolated from soil, plant surfaces, seeds, grains, fruits and other food, human skin, and nails. Common indoors in humid areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, poorly maintained HVAC systems, and window frames. Allergies to Aureobasidium are common but infections are rarely reported. Basidiomycetes A class of fungi characterized by spores formed on basidia. Includes the mushrooms, toadstools, boletes, wood bracket fungi, and puffballs. Some species are edible, such as Agaricus bisporus, the commercially cultivated mushroom. A few species cause wood brown rot, white rot, and dry rot in buildings. Basidiospores Sexual spores produced by Basidiomycetes. Beauveria (Hyphomycetes) Found in plant debris and soil. Some species are well known parasites of insects. It is also isolated from food materials and indoor environments. Bipolaris (Hyphomycetes) A common saprobe and plant pathogen frequently isolated from plant debris and soil. It is also a common cause of leaf spot on golf course turf. A few species are capable of causing disease in humans. Botrytis (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Sclerotinia (Ascomycetes) Most species are important plant pathogens, such as B. cinerea, which can cause gray mold disease on various plant parts. Can be found in food and indoor environment, particularly on plants, fruits, and vegetables. Cercospora (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Mycosphaerellaceae Widespread plant pathogens that cause leaf spot on many plants. Chaetomium (Ascomycetes) A common fungus in soils, dung, decaying organic matter, seeds, and wood or other cellulose-containing materials. Can be found indoors in water-damaged buildings on sheet rock, wallpaper, and other paper products. It is a common cause of food spoilage. Some species are allergenic but rarely cause human infections. Chromelosporium Teleomorph: Peziza (Ascomycetes) Chrysonilia (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Neurospora (Ascomycetes) This genus is widespread; being found in food and indoors. Chrysonilia sitophila is popularly referred to as the red bread mold that occurs on breads, baked goods, meat, and fruits. Chrysosporium (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Various Ascomycetes A common soil saprobe occasionally isolated from human or animal skin and nail. Chrysosporium inops is xerophilic and occurs in food. Cladosporium (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Mycosphaerella (Ascomycetes) Widely distributed as plant pathogens and saprobes. It is the most frequently found fungus in outdoor air. Indoors, it usually occurs at low concentrations in damp or humid areas, but may be found in high concentrations in water-damaged building materials. Its ability to sporulate heavily and to get airborne makes it an important fungal allergen. Frequently isolated as a contaminant in foods. Only occasionally associated with disease in humans; one species can cause chronic subcutaneous infection. Coelomycetes An artificial class of fungi characterized by asexual spores that are produced within a cavity lined by fungal tissue or fungal and host tissues. Most are saprobes or pathogens on plants, fungi, and lichens. Coprinus (Basidiomycetes) These mushrooms are popularly referred to as the inky caps because their gills dissolve into a black inky fluid at maturity. Found on wood, dung, humus, and soil. Some species are edible. Curvularia (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Cochliobolus (Ascomycetes) A common saprobe found in soil, plants, cereals, and cellulosic materials such as paper and archives. Some species are plant pathogens but can also occur indoors. It is allergenic and may cause infections in immunocompromised people. Dicyma (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Ascotricha (Ascomycetes) Doratomyces A saprobe commonly found on decaying plant materials, straw, dung, wood, and in soil. It produces dark, sooty colonies. It has the ability to penetrate cellophane and to decompose cellulose. Doratomyces stemonitis is suspected to be the causal agent of "speck rot" on potatoes. Dreschlera (Hyphomycetes) Mostly plant pathogens that cause leaf spot, seedling blight, leaf stripe, or net blotch. Emericella (Ascomycetes) Anamorph: Aspergillus (Hyphomycetes) Usually found in soil, potatoes, grain, citrus, and stored seeds. Can be found in food and the indoor environment. Emericella nidulans can produce a sterigmatocystin mycotoxin and can be pathogenic to man and animals. Epicoccum (Hyphomycetes) A cosmopolitan saprobe isolated from air, soil, grain, seeds, textiles, paper products, and food materials. Can be a plant pathogen, and is a common cause of leaf spots of various plants. Can be found in indoor environments, where it can grow under conditions of low humidity. It is a known allergen, and is occasionally isolated from human skin and sputum. Eurotium (Ascomycetes) Anamorph: Aspergillus (Hyphomycetes) Can be found in stored food, fruit juices, grains, nuts, milled rice, spices, meat products, and peas. Also commonly occurs in indoor environments. Eurotium herbariorum may cause keratitis and indigestion in man. Exophiala (Hyphomycetes) Widely distributed as a saprobe in soil, water, on plants and decaying wood. It is an occasional contaminant of feet and nails. Exophiala infections have also been reported in animals, including fish. Fusarium (Hyphomycetes) Soil-borne fungi containing many plant pathogens that cause root rot, stem rot, fruit rot, and vascular wilt. Common on commodities, such as rice, bean, soybean, and other crops. Some species are important mycotoxin producers, and others notably F. oxysporum, F. solani and F. moniliforme, are recognized as opportunistic pathogens of man and animals. The species that can produce three of the five internationally regulated mycotoxins are: Fusarium sp Habitat Trichothecenes Zearalenone Fumonisins F. acuminatum Food Can produce - - F. crookwellense Food Can produce Can produce - F. culmorum Food, Indoor Can produce Can produce - F. equiseti Food Can produce Can produce - F. graminearum Food Can produce Can produce - F. poae Food Can produce - - F. proliferatum Food - - Can produce F. sambucinum Food Can produce - - F. semitectum Food - Can produce - F. sporotrichioides Food, Indoor Can produce - - F. verticillioides Food - - Can produce Ganoderma (Basidiomycetes) Large, very hard, woody bracket fungi that grow on living and dead trees. Some species are common on oaks, chestnuts, and conifers such as hemlock, spruce, and pine. Many species are being investigated for possible medicinal uses. Geotrichum (Ascomycetes Yeast) Teleomorph Dipodascus, Galactomyces (Ascomycetes) Commonly found in soil, water, air, decaying leaves, rotting paper, and textiles. Involved in spoilage of food like bakery products, dairy products, juices, fruits, and vegetables. Can be found in indoor environments with some species producing strong odors. Hyphomycetes A group of fungi in which asexual spores called conidia are produced from special conidiogenous cells. Helvella (Ascomycetes) A saddle-shaped fruiting body of a fungus found on soil, or sometimes on rotting wood. Occasionally found growing on soil under houses. Memnoniella (Hyphomycetes) Mainly isolated from soils and dead plant material in tropical countries but has also been isolated from indoor sources such as paper, wallpaper, and textiles. Exposure to this genus should be avoided as they can produce griseofulvins, a potentially toxic metabolite. Emerging research has proposed that Memnoniella species actually belong to Stachybotrys. Monodictys (Hyphomycetes) Found on dead wood, stem, tree bark, damp linoleum, and paper. Isolated from soil and air. Myxomycetes Popularly called slime molds. These are not true fungi taxonomically. Some species are found in the soil, in decaying wood, or other organic matter, where they produce structures full of powdery resting spores. Mucor (Zygomycetes) Often found in soil, plants, hay, stored seeds, and manure. They can be found indoors in house dust, HVAC system dust, and poorly maintained carpets. They are rapid growers and can contaminate many kinds of stored food, including fruits and vegetables. A few species have been recovered from well-documented cases of zygomycosis. In general, infections due to members of this genus are rare. Nigrospora (Hyphomycetes) Some species are common on plants, particularly in the tropics. Occasionally isolated from soil, air, and foodstuffs. Paecilomyces (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Byssochlamys (Ascomycetes) A common saprobe found on dead plants and compost. Some species are insect parasites while others cause food spoilage. It is rarely a human pathogen but can cause infection in animals. However, some species, such as P. variotii, P. marquandii and P. lilacinus are emerging as causative agents of disease in immunocompromised individuals. Penicillium (Hyphomycetes) Many species are common contaminants on a variety of substrates. May be found indoors in air samples, carpet dust, or on wallpaper. Some species are able to produce mycotoxins, as summarized below. Human pathogenic species are rare, only limited to P. marneffei, which causes disease in immunocompromised individuals. Some species are used for commercial production, such as P. chrysogenum for the antibiotic penicillin, P. griseofulvum for the antibiotic griseofulvin, and P. roquefortii for blue cheese. Penicillium Habitat Toxic Metabolite P. aurantiogriseum Food, Indoor Can produce P. brevicompactum Food, Indoor - P. chrysogenum Food, Indoor - P. citrinum Food, (Indoor) Can produce P. commune Food, Indoor Can produce P. corylophilum Food, Indoor - P. crustosum Food Can produce P. digitatum Food - P. expansum Food Can produce P. funiculosum Food, Indoor - P. griseofulvum Food - P. olsonii Food, Indoor - P. oxalicum Food Can produce P. polonicum Food, Indoor Can produce P. roqueforti Food - P. rugulosum Food, Indoor - P. variabile Food, Indoor - P. verrucosum Food Can produce P. viridicatum Food Can produce Periconia (Hyphomycetes) A widespread fungus commonly found on various substrates, including stalks of grasses, herbaceous stems, dead leaves, or leaf spots. The spores of Periconia species are often indistinguishable from the spores of smut fungi like Ustilago species, when collected on air cassettes. Both genera can have spores that are brown, verruculose, or echinulate, ranging from 10-16 microns in diameter. Peziza (Ascomycetes) Anamorph: Chromelosporium Popularly referred to as cup fungi. They vary in size and color, but are mostly shades of ocher or brown to gray-violet. Most species are commonly found on old straw, compost, peat, leaf litter, rotting wood, damp soil, and other moist substrates. Can be found indoors in wet basements and wet carpets. Phialophora (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Ascomycetes Occurs in nature as a soft rot fungus on wood often causing a distinct blue stain. Can cause diseases in immunocompromised individuals. Phoma (Coelomycete) Found in soil and plant materials as saprobes. Will grow on a variety of materials such as butter, paint, cement, and rubber. Occasionally pathogenic to plants and humans, but infection from this fungus is extremely rare. Pithomyces (Hyphomycetes) This genus is common in soil and on dead or decaying plant materials. Requires high moisture level for spore germination. Can potentially produce cyclodepsipeptides, sporidesmolides, and sporidesmin. Rhinocladiella (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Capronia (Ascomycetes) Rhizopus (Zygomycete) Frequently isolated from soil and agricultural products, such as cereals and vegetables. Can cause infection in immunocompromised, malnourished or severely burned people. Rhodotorula (Yeast) A reddish yeast frequently isolated from air, soil, water, fruit juice, dairy products, and other substrates. Typically found as a saprobe in moist environments indoor such as carpeting, cooling coils, water tanks, humidifiers, and drain pans. Reported to be allergenic. Has been found to colonize terminally ill patients. Rusts Obligate parasitic fungi, which belong to Teliomycetes – Uredinales that cause plant diseases. Scopulariopsis (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Microascus (Ascomycetes) Mainly soil-borne, but also frequently isolated from wood, grain, fruit, paper, and food such as meat and dairy products. Also isolated from indoor environments. Most species can liberate arsenic gaseous compounds that can lead to arsenic poisoning. Has recently been associated with invasive human infections. Scytalidium (Hyphomycetes) Isolated from wood and soil. Serpula (Basidiomycete) Wood-attacking fungi. Serpula lacrymans is popularly referred to as the dry rot fungus or house fungus. Smuts (Teliomycetes) Obligate parasites and pathogens of plants that cause smut on various plant parts such as Silene anthers, corn kernels, onion bulbs, and rice grains. Sordaria (Ascomycetes) Common on dung. One species, S. fimicola is fairly common and is found on other substrates besides dung. Sporobolomyces (Yeast) Can be commonly detected in air samples. Frequently encountered indoors in water tanks, humidifiers, drain pans, etc. Sporoschisma (Hyphomycetes) Found on rotten wood and dead stems. Sporothrix (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Ophiostoma (Ascomycetes) Isolated from soil, live or dead plants, and peat moss. S. schenckii is an agent of human sporotrichosis, cutaneous infection, and ocular mycosis, usually in immunocompromised people. Sporotrichum (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Phanerochaete (Basidiomycetes) Can get airborne and be inhaled where it can form giant cells in the lungs. Stachybotrys (Hyphomycetes) A common saprophyte found on many substrates like grains, decaying plant materials, textiles, and tobacco. Grows indoors on water-damaged cellulose rich materials, such as sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, insulation backing, gypsum board, and wallpaper. The presence of this fungus can be significant due to its ability to produce mycotoxins under certain environmental conditions. Exposure to the toxins can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or skin exposure. It is possible that Stachybotrys may play a role in the development of sick building syndrome, but probably only in conjunction with other factors. Until more information is available on the health risks of environmental exposure to Stachybotrys, caution should be taken when dealing with this fungus. Stemphylium (Hyphomycetes) A common saprobe typically is found on dead plants and wood. It has been also isolated from air, paper, and cellulosic materials. Syncephalastrum (Zygomycete) Often isolated from soil and dung in tropical and subtropical regions. Can also be a persistent laboratory contaminant. Taeniolella (Hyphomycetes) Common on dead branches, wood, and senescent leaves. Was isolated from human cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions. Tetraploa (Hyphomycetes) Teleomorph: Massarina (Ascomycetes) Found on stems and leaf bases of many plants. Tetraploa aristata has been reported to cause keratitis. Thermomyces (Hyphomycetes) A thermophilic fungus that grows rapidly at 40° C. Torula (Hyphomycetes) Cosmopol |
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