My friend is a university librarian and has been under siege by mold for about a week now. The situation is finally coming under control (go dehumidifiers, go!), but before the lengthy clean-up process begins, we thought we might take advantage of the situation…
Here are my questions:
1> Of the molds which grow on books, how many are harmful/deadly?
2> Is there an easy way to identify molds which can get you high?
I’ve found a few places on line which charge a fee for identification, but we don’t have the time for that. Wednesday is probably the day cleanup starts.
I realize there’s not going to be a silver-bullet method of identifying these molds without a lab, of course, but if we had access to a lab we wouldn’t be sniffing library books either…
Thanks for your help and likely criticism!
There are several types of Aspergillosus that can be harmful, causing anything from sinusistis to invasive aspergillosis. But the odds of one of the really bad ones being present in harmful amounts in a library are likely low. The people more at risk are folks that work in silos around decaying vegetative matter like grain. Even then it is not a enormously common problem, as most folks seem naturally immune.
Asthmatics and immunocompromised folks are most at risk.
No.
Frankly I can’t think of too many off the top of my head that are psychoactive - Most fungi that fall into that category are basidiomycetes ( mushroms ). Exceptions like ergot won’t be found growing in a library.
At any rate it requires a decent compound microscope and a little bit ( not a lot ) of expertise to key out molds accurately.
Hmm… I guess I should’ve included the link that made me ask the question in the first place. It’s called “Book Fungus Can Get You High,” and it’s at:
http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/media/psychoactives_media2.shtml
According to the article, there are apparently any number of psychoactive molds, but I still haven’t found any specific names…
I had read about ergot while doing some initial research, but that’s usually found in wheat or in a witch’s den.
-MarkyDeSade
Correction: genus Aspergillus ( spelling corrected for those wishing to do a search ).
MarkyDeSade: Interesting article, but it seems pretty speculative. I think it is certainly possible, but I’d like to see something a little more definitive myself. Dizzyness and violent nausea could just as easily be an allergic reaction - I wouldn’t necessarily jump to the conclusion that hallucinogens are involved :).
Agreed, Tamerlane. I too would like to see something more definitive.
<sigh>
Oh well. It just seems like such a potential waste. 
If anybody has any information not mentioned, it would be appreciated.
BTW Tamerlane, thanks.