Common household mold
What You Need To Know About Acremonium In Your Home
While mold has been an issue for a significant amount of time, it’s only been in the past few decades that people have been paying more attention to it. During this time, a considerable amount of research has been put into the area, with various types of mold being identified. One of the more notable identified types has been Acremonium, a term that covers over 100 species of mold. Despite the ongoing and ever-increasing research into it, many people may not know much about Acremonium. With the wide range of health implications that it can have on you, knowing as much as possible about it can be vital. Much of this is focused on identifying it and understanding how to get rid of it. As such, there are a variety of things that you should know about Acremonium.
What Is Acremonium?
Acremonium is a term used to refer to over 100 types of mold that can grow in a person’s home and in other areas. It was identified in the early 1800s, although it was called Cephalosporium until 1971. It typically refers to asexual molds, which makes it a genus in the fungi imperfecti group.
Most of the Acremonium species are saprobes in the soil, which means that they can play an essential role in the nutrient cycle. However, there are a variety of species that are known to be pathogens to people, as well as quite a large number of them that are harmful to animals.
Where Can Acremonium Grow In The House?
With the various health implications that Acremonium may have, it can be helpful to be aware of the typical areas in the house it can grow. Like every other type of mold, it will need a significant amount of moisture to grow. In most cases, it will thrive in areas that offer water activity levels in the 0.90 to 0.98 range.
This usually means that they can be quite common in buildings that have experienced any kind of water damage. The material that a building or room is made from doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. This is because it’s been known to grow on concrete, wallpaper, plaster, drywall, plywood, wood, fiberglass, and much more.
Alongside this, there are a few specific areas in a building that it’s more likely to grow than others. Some of the more common areas include:
- Bathrooms
- Laundry Rooms
- Attics
- Basements
How To Identify It
Because Acremonium typically grows inside drywall and insulation, it can oftentimes be quite difficult to locate. Alongside this, identifying its spores in a spore trap may be much more challenging than many people think. The main reason for this is that the spores can often be colorless and much smaller than expected.
Despite this, there are a few notable ways that you may be able to identify Acremonium. Colonies typically come in a few specific colors, most notably orange, pink, gray, or white. If found early enough, then they may also be quite moist. However, it can take a powdery form over time, especially if it’s been growing for a significant period. The biggest reason why Acremonium is so hard to identify visually is simply that it shares various physical similarities with other types of mold. Lab testing is the only way to know for sure what type of mold you are dealing with.
The biggest reason why Acremonium is so hard to identify visually is simply that it shares various physical similarities with other types of mold.
Key Facts
Since Acremonium was initially identified, scientists have uncovered lots of information about it. This has focused on how it’s spread, how it may affect a person’s health, and much more. Throughout this time, there have been a variety of facts that have become self-evident, including:
It’s typically founded in buildings with wet cellulose;
It can grow in food;
Spores can travel in a variety of ways, including by insects, pets, through the breeze, etc.
It could create mycotoxins called Trichothecene.
Many of these facts could be useful in preventing Acremonium from developing in your home or building. With the wide range of health effects that it can have on you and the other people in the building, these could prove to be quite useful to know.
Potential Health Effects
Acremonium can have quite a broad range of health implications. While these typically affect people who are immuno-compromised, they can also be felt by people who don’t have any underlying immune issues. These health effects usually come in the form of infections that tend to be locally invasive and disseminated.
There can be a broad range of infections that are caused by mold, although many of these can depend on environmental factors. For example, temperature, humidity, and rainfall can all have an impact on which species of Acremonium grows, which will impact the type of potential infection a person may get.
These fungal infections can be serious if left untreated, especially over a long period. There are a few notable infections that Acremonium has been known to cause, including:
Cerebritis
Peritonitis
Arthritis
Pneumonia
Meningitis
Osteomyelitis
Sepsis
Acremonium has been known to colonize a person’s lungs, which typically results in a condition called a pulmonary fungal ball. It’s also known to cause a variety of digestive issues, such as creating growths in the gastrointestinal tract called bezoars.
Don’t Put Off Having a Mold Inspection
If you are concerned about mold inside your home or business, don’t ignore the problem. Have a professional mold inspection in Orlando and have peace of mind knowing that your issue is being handled the right way. Contact us today at (407) 452-2527 or use our online system to schedule an appointment.
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