You are here:
CHARACTERISTIC GROWTH REQUIREMENTS OF THE TOXIC MOLD STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARAM
Citation:
Menetrez*, M Y., K. K. Foarde, D Betancourt, AND T R. Dean. CHARACTERISTIC GROWTH REQUIREMENTS OF THE TOXIC MOLD STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARAM. Presented at Indoor Air Quality Problems and Engineering Solutions Symposium, RTP, NC, 21-23 July 2003.
Description:
The paper discusses the results of a study of the environmental factors leading to the growth of the mold Stachybotrys chartarum. S. chartarum has been found to be associated with idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants, and its toxin production and occurrence in water damaged buildings have been investigated. Growth of this mold on building materials such as drywall has been frequently documented. Indoor exposure to S. chartarum has also been linked to pulmonary disease, including allergies and asthma. In the study reported in this paper, sterilized gypsum board was inoculated with S. chartarum and exposed to controlled levels of relative humidity and wetting. The results indicate wetting is necessary for visible growth to occur in environments with a relative humidity below total saturation. Conversely, high levels of relative humidity without wetting did not initiate growth.