All 36 mold species tested by ERMI.

A_w ≥ 0.73·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus penicillioides is among the most extreme xerophiles on the ERMI panel, capable of germinating at water activity as low as 0.73 in laboratory conditions and even lower…

A_w ≥ 0.78·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus versicolor is one of the most significant and most common molds found in water-damaged buildings.

A_w ≥ 0.90·Tertiary colonizer

Chaetomium globosum is consistently ranked among the most common indoor molds in water-damaged buildings (often cited as the third most frequently isolated genus after Penicillium…

A_w ≥ 0.94·Tertiary colonizer

Stachybotrys chartarum (commonly called 'black mold') is the most notorious mold in the context of water-damaged buildings and building-related illness.

A_w ≥ 0.69·Primary colonizer

Wallemia sebi is one of the most extreme xerophiles in the fungal world, capable of growing on surfaces that most molds would consider far too dry.

A_w ≥ 0.78·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus flavus is one of the most significant toxigenic molds on the ERMI panel.

A_w ≥ 0.82·Secondary colonizer

Aspergillus fumigatus is the single most important mold pathogen for immunocompromised individuals, responsible for the large majority of invasive aspergillosis cases, a life-thre…

A_w ≥ 0.77·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus niger is one of the most immediately recognizable indoor molds: the black fuzzy growth found on damp drywall, bathroom grout, and food items like onions and spices.

A_w ≥ 0.77·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus ochraceus is a xerophilic mold best known as a producer of ochratoxin A, a nephrotoxic (kidney-damaging), immunosuppressive mycotoxin classified by IARC as Group 2B (p…

A_w ≥ 0.73·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus penicillioides is among the most extreme xerophiles on the ERMI panel, capable of germinating at water activity as low as 0.73 in laboratory conditions and even lower…

A_w ≥ 0.75·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus restrictus is a slow-growing xerophile closely related to A.

A_w ≥ 0.80·Secondary colonizer

Aspergillus sclerotiorum belongs to Aspergillus section Circumdati, the same taxonomic group as A.

A_w ≥ 0.78·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus sydowii is closely related to A.

A_w ≥ 0.83·Secondary colonizer

Aspergillus unguis is a member of Aspergillus section Nidulantes, a group that includes several species associated with water-damaged indoor environments.

A_w ≥ 0.78·Primary colonizer

Aspergillus versicolor is one of the most significant and most common molds found in water-damaged buildings.

A_w ≥ 0.88·Secondary colonizer

Aureobasidium pullulans is a remarkable polymorphic fungus that can appear as a yeast, as a filamentous mold, or as a combination of both, ranging in color from white through pink…

A_w ≥ 0.90·Tertiary colonizer

Chaetomium globosum is consistently ranked among the most common indoor molds in water-damaged buildings (often cited as the third most frequently isolated genus after Penicillium…

A_w ≥ 0.82·Secondary colonizer

Cladosporium sphaerospermum is the most xerotolerant of the indoor Cladosporium species, meaning it can grow at lower moisture levels than C.

A_w ≥ 0.70·Primary colonizer

Eurotium amstelodami (now often classified under the Aspergillus genus) is one of the most drought-tolerant molds that can colonize indoor environments.

A_w ≥ 0.79·Primary colonizer

Paecilomyces variotii is a heat-tolerant, xerophilic mold found in damp buildings, HVAC systems, soil, and on a wide variety of organic materials.

A_w ≥ 0.78·Primary colonizer

Penicillium brevicompactum is a common xerophilic mold found in damp homes, particularly on gypsum board, walls, and mattresses.

A_w ≥ 0.80·Secondary colonizer

Penicillium corylophilum is one of the most commonly found Penicillium species in water-damaged buildings, particularly on gypsum board, wallpaper, and interior wood surfaces.

A_w ≥ 0.83·Secondary colonizer

Penicillium crustosum is a common indoor Penicillium species found on water-damaged gypsum board, wallpaper, and other cellulose-containing building materials.

A_w ≥ 0.83·Secondary colonizer

Penicillium purpurogenum (reclassified as Talaromyces purpurogenus per Yilmaz et al.

A_w ≥ 0.79·Primary colonizer

Penicillium spinulosum and Penicillium glabrum are closely related primary colonizer Penicillium species found in damp indoor environments.

A_w ≥ 0.83·Secondary colonizer

Penicillium variabile is one of the seven Penicillium species on the ERMI panel and is associated with damp indoor environments and water-damaged building materials.

A_w ≥ 0.90·Tertiary colonizer

Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is historically noted for its ability to methylate arsenic compounds, a widely repeated (though not strongly evidenced in modern primary literature) sto…

A_w ≥ 0.90·Tertiary colonizer

Scopulariopsis chartarum is a dark-pigmented (dematiaceous) member of the Scopulariopsis genus found in moist indoor environments.

A_w ≥ 0.94·Tertiary colonizer

Stachybotrys chartarum (commonly called 'black mold') is the most notorious mold in the context of water-damaged buildings and building-related illness.

A_w ≥ 0.90·Tertiary colonizer

Trichoderma viride is a fast-growing, bright green mold most commonly found on very wet building materials, particularly water-saturated wood, gypsum board, and paint.

A_w ≥ 0.69·Primary colonizer

Wallemia sebi is one of the most extreme xerophiles in the fungal world, capable of growing on surfaces that most molds would consider far too dry.

A_w ≥ 0.90·Tertiary colonizer

Acremonium strictum is one of the molds most often found in water-damaged building materials.

A_w ≥ 0.85·Secondary colonizer

Alternaria alternata is the outdoor mold most strongly associated with allergic asthma.

A_w ≥ 0.83·Secondary colonizer

Aspergillus ustus is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that has gained attention in clinical settings due to its resistance to multiple antifungal medications, including triazole…

A_w ≥ 0.87·Secondary colonizer

Cladosporium cladosporioides is one of the most ubiquitous mold species on the planet, found everywhere from polar regions to tropical environments, and consistently among the mos…

A_w ≥ 0.87·Secondary colonizer

The second sequence variant (seqvar 2) of Cladosporium cladosporioides represents a closely related genetic lineage of the same species, separated in the ERMI panel because molecu…

A_w ≥ 0.85·Secondary colonizer

Cladosporium herbarum is one of the most important mold allergens after Alternaria alternata in terms of allergic disease burden.

A_w ≥ 0.90·Tertiary colonizer

Epicoccum nigrum is a cosmopolitan mold found primarily on decaying plant material outdoors but also colonizing water-damaged building materials indoors.

A_w ≥ 0.93·Tertiary colonizer

Mucor amphibiorum belongs to the Mucorales, a group of fast-growing, water-loving fungi that thrive under high moisture conditions.

A_w ≥ 0.78·Primary colonizer

Penicillium chrysogenum (famous as the original source of penicillin, the antibiotic that changed medicine) is also one of the most common indoor molds worldwide.

A_w ≥ 0.93·Tertiary colonizer

Rhizopus stolonifer (commonly called bread mold) is the fast-growing fuzzy gray mold most people recognize from spoiling bread, fruit, and vegetables.