Old, dusty and damp historic buildings provide perfect conditions for mold growth. In such buildings mold will be found growing on wall surfaces, the ceiling and on interior decorations.
Before any restoration work, it’s important to conduct a microbiological investigation to document the types of microorganisms present and their quantities. Some of the common molds in historic buildings include:
- Aspergillus niger
- Aspergillus flavus
- Aureobasidium pullulans
- Chaetomium globosum
- Cladosporium spp
- Fusarium spp
- Penicillium spp
- Stachybotrys spp
- Trichoderma spp
These molds are not only allergenic (trigger allergic reactions) but also potential producers of mycotoxins. For example, Aspergillus flavus is a producer of the highly carcinogenic (cancer causing) Aflatoxin. Restoration workers are, therefore, exposed to allergenic molds and also most likely to mold toxins.