Know More about Acremonium

Acremonium sp. is the fungal genus  of Mold having numerous species that are often found to be living in the structures, often in insulation. This genus is also found in the plant debris and soil. It thrives in almost all varieties of environments and is found across the globe. There are several noted species within this genus ranging from the fungi that are capable of bringing about serious infections and the ones that are widely used for producing pharmaceuticals.

These Molds will reproduce asexually through spore production that allows them to spread. Acremonium is among the fast growing Mold and the colonies of this fungus genus can mature within a week in the moist and warm environments. These colonies will have a typical slightly powdered texture. The color of these colonies can vary from pink to gray. However, several species of these Mold are capable of producing mycotoxins that can cause health problems in human beings and animals.

Acremonium is found almost everywhere and is found to cause contamination of food items and lab samples. The ability of this fungus to thrive on a variety of substrates makes it difficult to keep it under control. Identifying the molds can be a big challenge as the differences between the individual species will be subtle. This is considered to be among the most common problems related with molds.

In human beings, A. kiliense, A. falciforme and A. recifei causes a wide variety of problems. These species have been found to cause infections in the human beings. One among the most commonly found infections in human beings because of this particular type of fungi is pulmonary infections. It has also been found that the Mold are responsible for infections in many other parts of the human body too. These infections will be commonly found in the immuno-compromised individuals who will not have the power to fight off this fungus. There are many different anti-fungal medications that can be used for treating the infections caused by Acremonium. However, many among these medications will not be successful in eradicating the fungus completely.

A. strictum is the species that is found to be the main culprit behind the mycetoma. Mycetoma is a s infection under the skin that is caused by this fungus. This infection will be normally found in the foot of a person. The people who spend considerable time barefoot will be ones who fall for this type of infection. Even though medications are commonly used for fighting off this infection, in undiagnosed infections may become so severe that amputation may be required in these extreme cases as it is the only way to stop the spreading of this infection.

A. chrysogenum is a species of the Mold that is beneficial for the mankind. It is used for producing antibiotics of cephalosporin class. This fungal genus was called as Cephalosporium once because of this use of the genus. The antibiotics manufactured using this genus is used for treating a wide range of conditions. This makes the particular species, a valuable member of Acremonium genus. These are the common facts about Acremonium that are worth knowing.

The rapid increase in the occurrence of diseases induced by mold in different parts of the world has increased the need to understand more about molds and the diseases induced by them.

Many people are interested in how you can test for mold. There are home test kits on the market today, however if you see mold visibly you will already know there is mold in that area. The above video done by the History Channel gives you a visual look at mold, mold testing and mold remediation.  We at Moldremoval.com want to make sure anyone that suspects or see mold in there home, realize the danger that lies in wait to compromises people health daily.

It is the unseen places that mold can be hidden that the home owners have to worry about. As there is no “standard” as to how many sampling of air quality needs to be done, it is suggested by square footage. If you live in a single floor home, one air sample is needed, however if you have a basement and 2 floors, a sample is usually taken from all three area.  If you see mold on a wall like this picture you do not need a kit to tell you there is a problem.

Just as a Physician will see you when your are sick, and if the symptoms are  characteristic of a certain illness (as compareable to visible mold) he can then treat that illness.  However, if symptoms are not clear upon examination, a physician would then complete testing to help diagnose the illness. This is what would be done  by a mold remediator contractor if you are having health symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, irritated eyes or skin, but no visible mold is seen but may smell a “musty odor”.  A good mold remediator will then take “air sampling” to determine the amount mold detected in your home.

The air sampling is done in this way.  A control sample is taken from the outside air around the house.  Then, for each level of the home, an indoor sampling is collected.  If the sampling from the inside is higher than the sample from the outside, then it is likely a mold investation has invaded your home.  A moisture meter is also one of the tools used to find any high moisture that may not be seen in the home, such as inside a wall, in air ducting, behind the tile in your shower or any other place that water and moisture may be found and mold can grow.

Mold amounts are different from region to region.  If you live in the north, winter is the time where mold levels are usually low or non existent  in the out side air sampling if any mold is found inside there is a problem.  If you live in the southern parts of the US, mold may be seen all year long, so the comparison of quantity is needed to be evaluated.  Also the location of the home is another factor in the out door air sampling.  If you live in a country setting, where there are large area’s of woods and vegatation, molds are more prevelent as they help with the decaying of the organic material surrounding the home.  Where as, if you live in a city, the lack of out door vegatation will bring the air samples in as lower.  Either way, if there is a higher concentration of  mold spores in your home’s air than the control air sampling from out doors, the contractor will know that there is a problem.

Some people will ask if they need to know what type of mold is investing the home.  There are many opinions about this.  If the people living in the home are experiencing allergic symptoms, then it does not really matter, as that mold needs to be removed for the health of the home owners and the home.  Whether it be Black Mold or Stachybotryswhich is one of the most toxic molds or one of the most common and inoccuous molds Cladosporium, which is found litterally every where were plant material is decomposing and has little effect on healthy persons,  both are remediated or cleaned up in the exact same way.

We at Moldremoval.com, want your home to be a Healthy Home.  We provide contractors from all area’s of the country to help the home owner with their specific and individual needs.  Providing license and insured contractors for you to choose from in your area.  If you suspect your home may have a mold problem, consider us to help you find the right contractor in your area.

Mold can be one of the most undiagnosed health problems that we deal with today.  Mold, unlike animal and plant life, need only moisture, oxygen and something to feed on, organic or inorganic.  It loves mositure, wet, dark place.  And in your home you could havemold hidden from a tiny drip of water in your walls behind your shower.  Or in your AC duct from the condenstation of the process ofkeeping your home comfortable and cool.  You see, mold is incidence,  taking it’s time to grow.  The cleanest of homes, still can havemold.

We also know it as mildew.  Now everyone has seen sprays for that on TV.  I am sure we have all sprayed down a shower or two in our life times, thrown out that shower curtain with that little bit of black “yuk” on it.  Today, we understand on volatile organic compounds are bad for the environments and bad for our health.   Seemingly harmless symptoms like coughing and itchy eyes could be seen as just an allergy.  Something from outside.  Well yes Mold spores are outside, but it is when they find a home inside where the environment is right for the mold to feed and reproduce that the healthy home we thought we lived in become bad for us.

At Healthy Homes, Inc, we  have developed a new way to find someone in your area that can help and protect your home.  Our newly remastered website, brings together the nations best contractors in the  field of Mold inspection, Mold and Black Mold remediation, fire damage restoration, Abestos removal and water extraction.  Our site includes two different blogs for the contractor to keep up with industry standards and another that each can share and interact with their customer.  Sharing information freely while also linking to their own site and other relevant informational site.  If you have or suspect a mold problem, then got to www.moldremoval.com and see if we can be of assistance today.