Penicillium

Quality indoor air is a vital component in achieving well-being and overall health of a person. However, it is one of the most neglected because people don’t pay attention to it because air pollutants cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Although there might be signs of an imminent problem such as musty odor, your sense of smell becomes used to it such that you completely ignore it. This makes it important to know the health risks of air pollutants such as Penicillium, to detect them as soon as they start growing and remove them immediately.

What is Penicillium?

Penicillium is a genus of mold that produces green spores and hence is normally referred to as green mold. There are two other genera of mold that produce green spores: Cladosporium and Aspergillus. These species don’t always have green spores; sometimes they can produce pink or blue spores. But the most common color of spores produced in households is green hence the name.

Green mold is a versatile mold species that can grow in tough conditions since it needs less moisture to survive compared to other mold species. Thus it is the most widespread mold species and has various practical applications: extracts from some types of Penicillium are used to produce penicillin (an antibiotic) and a variety of cheese. But certain species are harmful to human beings.

Where will you find Penicillium in the house?

Whenever moisture accumulates on organic material like wood, food or paper and there is a slight rise in temperature, green mold will flourish. Therefore, to check if green mold has colonized a place, concentrate on areas that are damp.

For instance, during winter a windowsill is prone to have green mold growing because of leaks and condensation when there is a build-up of snow along the fringes of the window. Other areas where you will find green mold include bathroom, basement and attic.

Health effects

The health consequences of green depend on the species involved and the health status of the person exposed to its spores. There are several species that are benign and have pragmatic applications (like penicillin) while others produce toxic spores.

In case you have a weak immune system or someone in your home has a compromised immune system, you should watch out for any signs of green mold. People with immune weak systems include children, anyone battling an infection or ailment, cancer patients and the elderly. All these people can be adversely affected by green mold spores.

Some species of green mold are common allergens. They cause allergies like hay fever, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Typically Penicillium is not pathogenic but there are a few species that produce mycotoxins and organic compounds that are microbial volatile. Prolonged exposure to these toxins produces the harmful health effects mentioned above.

Effect on buildings

A Penicillium colony in your home will feed off your carpet, drywall, wallpaper, joists and wooden beams as long as it continues to grow. A small colony on any part of your building should not be ignored; it will turn out to be a big, costly and lethal problem. This is because it will critically affect the structural status of your home by destroying organic components of your building.

Positive applications

Staphylococcus aureus is a mold species that belongs to the fungi genus Penicillium. It was discovered by Dr. Alexander Fleming in 1928. Dr. Fleming extracted an antibacterial component called Penicillin from this species. Penicillin is used to treat septicemia (blood poisoning) and other bacterial infections.

In case you come across any green mold colony in your home, the only way to know the potential health risks it represents is to have laboratory tests carried out by professional mold removers. Although you may guess the genus of the mold by using environmental factors such as food ( some Penicillium species like thriving on oranges), the best method to know the species of mold colonizing a section of your house is to have a laboratory test carried out on samples taken from the affected area.

Conclusion

Penicillium growth is a multifaceted issue whose health effect will vary depending on the species involved and any inherent health problems that you may be having. In case you come across any green mold colony in your home, consult a professional mold remediation specialist to evaluate the risks involved and develop the next course of action in order to eradicate any lethal pathogens from your home.

Read More Here: Penicillium