Fungi-mediated biodeterioration of household materials, libraries, cultural heritage and its control

Abstract

Fungi are cosmopolitan in distribution. The fungal deterioration of paper materials (books, manuscripts, journals and files), wood (household furniture, library and museum furniture), textiles (household and museum specimens) and cultural heritage (storage spaces of museums, monument walls, ceilings, statues and wall paintings) is a serious problem throughout the world. It has been observed that fungi of the class Ascomycetes, followed by Deuteromycetes and Zygomycetes are mostly responsible for such type of damages. Moreover, fungal spores are allergenic and may produce mycotoxins. They enter the human body through inhalation or dermal contact and may cause severe diseases such as air-tract infections, mycosis, asthma and immune system problems. Several physical and chemical methods and specimen treatment regimens, depending on the type and intensity of infection, have been suggested from time to time. The objective of this chapter is to create awareness on the aforementioned fungal biodeterioration phenomena and also to deal with precautionary and protective control measures to prolong the shelf-life of the household objects, museum specimens, historic monuments, objects and archaeological sites.