There are numerous species of Cladosporium. They produce various colors of fungal colonies that can appear as olive, brown, or black. Naturally occurring Cladosporium spores in the outdoor environment are present year-round in many parts of the country.
Cladosporium is also a mold that can often be found indoors. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that Cladosporium, Pencillium, and Aspergillus are the most common indoor molds. Cladosporium is frequently detected in humid environments, on wet surfaces, and in properties that have suffered water damage.
Whether indoors or outdoors, Cladosporium is known to be a common cause of allergies. Exposure to elevated concentrations could also trigger an asthma attack in some asthmatics. Inhaling Cladosporium, or other types of fungi, could even act as a respiratory irritant, or be a concern for people who are already suffering from various respiratory diseases.
“Cladosporium is one of the most common molds on Earth, with over 700 known species in the genus,” said Derrick A. Denis, Senior Vice President for Clark Seif Clark. “Exposure to some Cladosporium both outdoors and indoors is unavoidable to its ubiquity. Like all molds, overexposure to Cladosporium has the potential to elicit negative health effects, particularly in sensitive individuals and vulnerable populations. For these reasons, CSC and various reputable guidelines consider an acceptable environment as having no visible mold growth indoors and generally similar airborne mold concentrations when comparing indoors to outdoors.”
To help building owners and managers optimize indoor conditions and mitigate exposure risks to contaminants in the built environment, the infection control and indoor environmental quality experts at CSC offer testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services. Their professionals utilize decades of experience, and the latest tools and resources, to conduct site assessments to identify and reduce exposures to microbial pathogens, indoor allergens, respiratory irritants, and known asthma triggers.
CSC has also sponsored an educational video about Cladosporium as a common indoor air quality contaminant that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/X79DwG1yb7U
To learn more about this or other indoor environmental quality resources, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com, or call 800-807-1118.
About Clark Seif Clark, Inc. (CSC)
Since 1996, CSC has helped clients in both the public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational health, and environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers, and real estate professionals.
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