This is one of the questions we received recently from one of our web visitors. Phoma is one of the moulds that may be found in water damaged buildings. Other common fungi in water damaged buildings include Chaetomium globosum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Ulocladium chartarum, Trichoderma spp such as Trichoderma harzianum, Aureobasidium pullulans, and the yeast fungus Rhodotorula spp.
In nature, Phoma is widespread in soil and a wide range of plants and plant materials. It is one of the most important plant disease causing agents. In indoor environment, Phoma is common on wet/damp paints, wood, wall papers, window frames, and caulking especially in bathrooms. Species of Phoma are also commonly isolated from house dust. The common species in indoor environment are Phoma glomerata and Phoma macrostoma.
Phoma species are mainly contaminants, though may rarely cause infections in humans particularly to individuals with weak immune system. They are not known to pose an inhalation hazard to humans. However, any mould growing in human occupied environment should be treated as potentially hazardous.
Do you have a mould question? Call us at (905)290-9101 now!