Extremely Common, Many Species
Aspergillus is a large genus with hundreds of species, several of which are routine components of indoor and outdoor air everywhere. Finding Aspergillus in an air sample is not by itself remarkable — concentration and context are what matter.
Colors vary widely: green, yellow, brown, black, or white depending on species. Some dark Aspergillus species are commonly mistaken for the black mold people worry about.
Where It Grows
Aspergillus is less demanding than Stachybotrys. It grows readily on materials that are damp rather than saturated, which makes it common in HVAC systems, on wall surfaces in humid rooms, in dust, and on stored organic material.
In Katy's climate, a poorly managed HVAC condensate system or a chronically humid closet is enough.
The Real Risk Group
For healthy people, Aspergillus typically causes allergic-type symptoms if it causes anything. For immunocompromised people it is a different matter entirely.
Aspergillosis — invasive infection — is a serious risk for transplant recipients, people undergoing chemotherapy, those on high-dose corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants, and people with advanced lung disease. This is why healthcare facilities treat Aspergillus with a seriousness that would be excessive in an ordinary office.
Allergic Conditions
Some people develop allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, a hypersensitivity reaction seen most often in people with asthma or cystic fibrosis. It is uncommon but is a recognized condition requiring medical management.
If you have asthma and persistent respiratory symptoms in a damp building, that is worth raising with your physician specifically.
What To Do About It
The response does not change based on species: find the moisture, fix it, and remove affected porous material under appropriate containment.
Where a household member is immunocompromised, be more conservative about both the scope of removal and keeping that person out of the home during work.
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