Characterization of fungi and their effect on documents and manuscripts in the archive of Malek National Library and museum

Historical and cultural relics made from paper are of historic, artistic and scientific importance. Such artifacts gradually degrade because of physical, chemical and biological factors in archives. Bio-deterioration factors, especially fungi are the main factors. This paper reports findings of an attempt to characterize fungi and their effect on paper and human health in the archives of Malek National Library and Museum where highly precious collection of manuscripts in Iran is kept. Research methods Manuscripts were classified according to aesthetically effect of fungi in six different category and main samples of each category were sampled under sterile condition. SDA medium was used for fungi cultivation. Fungi were characterized according to their macroscopic and morphological characteristics and their effects were evaluated. Results showed that active fungi on manuscripts of the archive were Cladosporium (herbarum), Penicillium (expansum), Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus (stolonifer), Cephalosporium, Aspergillus glaucus and Alternaria alternat respectively. These are cellulolytic fungi and degrade the cellulose of paper by production of cellulase enzyme and aesthetically effect on manuscripts. Stains found on papers included dark blue-black stains due to Cladosporium (herbarum); little black point like stains due to Aspergillus niger, brown stains were due to Aspergillus glaucus, dark brown-black stains were due to Alternaria alternata, purple-reddish brown stains due to Cephalosporium sp, and pale yellow-brownish yellow due to Rhizopus (stolonifer) and penicillium (expansum). The capacity of mycotoxin production of these fungi is a serious health hazard and urgent treatment procedure is needed.