One of our web visitors sent us the following question. “In my home in the Netherlands a large concentration of Aspergillus niger and Rhodotorula was detected. A number of weeks ago my doctor thought I had a heart failure and was delivered to the hospital.
When I am in my home I do not feel good. Now I moved into my daughters. In the house I was sweating like I was having sweat attacks. I was coughing constantly. Could these species cause serious health problems???? And what can I do??? I feel better when I am out of the house”.


Aspergillus niger is one of the Aspergillus species associated with a disease condition called aspergillosis. The primary causes of aspergillosis are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. There are three main types of aspergillosis: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), pulmonary aspergilloma and invasive aspergillosis. Aspergillus niger may cause ABPA.


Rhodotorula is a yeast fungus. It is common in air and soil. It may infect individuals with suppressed immunity such as those infected with the AIDs virus or have undergone certain medical treatments. It has 3 known species; Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodotorula minuta, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa with the former being the most common.


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