Aspergillus Niger is Inactivated by Germicidal UV Light

What is Aspergillus niger?

Aspergillus niger is the most abundant mold found throughout the environment – in soil, water, vegetation, in 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 products and has been known to infect the fermentation and lagering areas of breweries . It gets its name from the latin ‘aspergillum’ meaning ‘holy water sprinkler’ (in reference to its appearance), while ‘niger’ is simply the latin word for ‘black.’

This mold is pathogenic (disease forming), containing numerous strains which secrete ochratoxins. These are compounds hazardous to both humans and animals when consumed, thereby causing the fungal infection Aspergillosis as well as a variety of other serious health conditions. Some long-term consequences of exposure to the fungus include kidney damage, kidney failure, and cancer . Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the ear canal which has been observed as a result of Aspergillus exposure, and in rare cases pneumonia has resulted.

Due to the prevalent nature of Aspergillus niger in the environment, its spores are frequently inhaled by humans from their surroundings. People are particularly susceptible to the infection Aspergillosis if they are immune compromised or have pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma or cystic fibrosis. Other concentrations of the fungus spores have been found in greenhouse peat dust, Egyptian mummies and in the International Space Station . The mold is apparently resistant to the many forms of radiation which exist naturally in space.

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

are immune compromised or have lung disease
have had an organ transplant
are exposed to or ingest decaying food
have mold growing in your home

Preventing the Spread of Aspergillus niger

It 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

Get Additional Protection with Germicidal UV Disinfection

Germicidal Ultraviolet (UV-C) Water Purification can inactivate Aspergillus niger in air, on surfaces, and in water or liquid. Baking and food processing facilities can benefit from direct UV disinfection during production. UV water and liquid disinfection can help beer processing facilities control the growth and spread of Aspergillus niger and many other harmful microorganisms. Cannabis growers using UV air disinfection can help prevent this mold from spreading throughout their crop.

Our products use STER-L-RAY® Germicidal UV-C Lamps producing ultraviolet wavelengths at 254 nanometers, the region of germicidal effectiveness most destructive to harmful microorganisms. View the UV-C dosage listed below to help inactivate this particular mold in many applications.

Aspergillus niger: Classification & UV-C Dose for Inactivation

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

Where is it found?

Contaminated
Food

Contaminated
Bread

Contaminated
Plants

What can it infect?

Urinary Tract

Ear Canal

Aspergillus niger Infects Lower Respiratory Tract

Lungs

How Does it Spread?

Aspergillus niger Spreads by Inhaling Respiratory Droplets

Breathe In

Ingesting Contaminated Food

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
Cancer

Sources on Aspergillus niger

The above information can be found on the following pages. Please read complete articles to learn more.

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

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.

Learn More & Shop Our Products to Inactivate Aspergillus niger

Made in the USA from U.S. and imported parts, Air & Surface Disinfection product lines from Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation^® are constructed of the highest quality materials and use germicidal UV-C lamps to disinfect water and surfaces, inactivating microorganisms like Aspergillus niger.

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