Article from IEQ Review

Pure Air Control Services and the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory are pleased to introduce "Under the Scope", a new section of the IEQ REVIEW. There are over 100,000 species of fungi. Many fungi are good and useful (edible mushrooms would be an example of these) while some cause problems (some fungi can injure plants and humans). Every week the IEQ Review will describe a specific microorganism, its morphological origin and potential health effects. If you would like to know about a specific organism and/or would like it published in The IEQ Review please email Dr. Rajiv Sahay with the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDL) at Pure Air Control Services laboratory@pureaircontrols.com

This week we will cover ...

Alternaria alternata is a rapidly growing fungus that produces a greenish-black colony within five days, when incubated at 25C (77F). The hyphae, conidiophores, and conidia are pigmented olivaceous-brown (dematiaceous). It is found worldwide and is very common. It can be isolated from air, plants (including causing "blackspot of roses"), foodstuffs, soil, and textiles. When grown on building materials, is produces alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether (Ren et al., 1998; Nielsen et al., 1999)

Clinical Relevance:

A. alternata can be an opportunist human pathogen causing a hypersensitivity pneumonitis (woodworker's lung disease), and an immediate-type hypersensitivity - type 1 (IgE-mediated) extrinic asthma and disease that is very common in individuals with atopic disease. Alternaria alternata is capable of producing tenuazonic acid and other toxic metabolites which may be associated with disease in humans or animals

Alternaria alternata A. alternata