Aspergillus Niger is Inactivated by Germicidal UV Light

What is Aspergillus niger?

Aspergillus niger is the most abundant moldopen_in_new found throughout the environment — in soil, water, vegetation, fecal matter, decomposing matter, or even floating in the air. Cannabis farms have found Aspergillus spores in their product. It manifests itself as “black mold” on many types of food, particularly fruits, vegetables, and nuts. However, it also infects bread productsopen_in_new and has been known to infect the fermentation and lagering areas of breweriesopen_in_new.

This mold is disease forming, containing numerous strains which secrete toxins. When consumed, these compounds are hazardous to humans and animals, causing the fungal infection Aspergillosis and other serious health conditions. Due to the prevalent nature of Aspergillus niger in the environment, its spores are frequently inhaled by humans from their surroundings. Other concentrations of the fungus spores have been found in greenhouse peat dust, Egyptian mummiesopen_in_new and in the International Space Stationopen_in_new. The mold is apparently resistant to the many forms of radiation which exist naturally in space.

Where is it Found?

Sliced bread with mold from Aspergillus niger — Contaminated Bread

Rows of plants in a greenhouse — Contaminated Plants

What Does it Infect?

Woman with urinary tract infection from Aspergillus niger — Urinary Tract

Closeup of ear with ear canal diagram — Ear Canal

Man with lungs and upper respiratory tract showing — Lungs

How Can You Get it?

Nose breathing in Aspergillus niger — Breathing In

Woman eating a large piece of bread — Eating Food

Preventing the Spread of Aspergillus niger

In humans, this mold can spread by the following means:

Inhalation of airborne spores from a variety of sources
Exposure to household dust
Contact with objects or surfaces that are contaminated by the mold
Contact with human feces

Food and beverage industries must enact strict disinfection and air circulation procedures to counteract the spread of this mold in their facilities. Fungal spores are particularly widespread in bakeries due to their presence in flour, and they can easily spread through the air. Make sure air flow is filtered and that extracted air is not reused. In breweries, this mold is particularly difficult to eradicate since it is able to grow at temperatures between 42.8°F and 116.6°F.

Get More Protection with UV Disinfection

Germicidal ultraviolet (UV-C) air and surface disinfection can inactivate Aspergillus niger in the baking industry, food processing, greenhouses, and cannabis drying rooms. Beer processing facilities can benefit from UV water and liquid disinfection. Shop our products at AtlanticUltraviolet.comopen_in_new.

Learn about these applications:

Cannabis

Baking

View all UV-C Application Pages.

Our germicidal lamps produce ultraviolet wavelengths at 254 nanometers, the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness. Read our FAQ blog post to learn more. See dosage data below.

UV Applications for air and surface disinfection of Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger: Classification & UV-C Dose to Neutralize

Organism:	Alternate Name:	Type:	Disease:	*UV Dose:**
Aspergillus niger	A. niger	Mold	Aspergillosis, black mold poisoning, Otomycosis	226 mJ/cm²

* Nominal Ultraviolet dosage necessary to inactivate better than 99% of microorganisms. See sources below.

People at High Risk for Infection

You’re more likely to contract an infection from this microorganism if you:

Are immune compromised or have lung disease like asthma or cystic fibrosis
Have had an organ transplantopen_in_new
Are exposed to or ingest decaying food
Have mold growing in your home

Aspergillus niger Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with this mold are as follows:

Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Cough
Fever (in rare cases)
Stuffiness

Runny nose
Headache
Dizziness
Inattentiveness

Possible Complications from Aspergillus niger

Some infections from Aspergillus niger can cause:

Aspergillosis
Kidney damage and/or failure
Otomycosis
Otomycosis, a fungal infection of the ear canal which has been observed as a result of Aspergillus exposure
Cancer
In rare cases, pneumonia

Sources on Aspergillus niger

The above information can be found on the following pages.

Dosage Source

Sensitivity of Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses, and Other Microorganisms to Ultraviolet Radiation. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Volume 126, Article No. 126021, 2021.

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