 |
Humidifiers
Images
and Text ©
2005 Jeffrey C. May
| The water tray of the furnace humidifier
at the right has a crust of crystalline minerals
at its lip. The minerals were deposited from
the many gallons of water evaporated by the rotating
sponge coated with a honeycomb plastic in the upper
part of the picture. The white film floating
on the surface of the dark water consists of actinomycetes
(bacteria-like organisms). |
 |
 |
At the left is a light photomicrograph
(1000 x) of the actinomycetes taken from
the surface of the humidifier water. The
actinomycetes are stained pink with acid
fuchsin. These organisms are normally
found growing in soil, and are sometimes
responsible for the smell of freshly turned
earth. I often find actinomycetes in
humidifiers, both on furnaces and in portable
room units. Inhalation of the organisms
can cause allergy problems and hypersensitivity
pneumonitis. Actinomycetes grow as
fungi, producing spores and hyphae, though
much smaller.
|
|
| |
|
Photo Gallery
• Feather Bioaerosol
Small, bacteria-like organisms on feather fragments
may cause allergy or coughing.
• Bacteria from
a Smelly Sponge
The surface of a kitchen sponge that reeked.
• Humidifiers
A white film on the surface of water in
a humidifier.
• Mites
A mold-eating mite.
• Stachybotrys
Mold
Often referred to as the "toxic black mold".
|
|
|
