Is there a mycologist in the house? Can I tell if fungus is dead?

[E. von Hoegh]

Gamma rays?

 

[mhcfires]

The best way to kill this fungus is to take the stuff outside, douse it with lighter fluid and light it.

 

[Shootar401]

Kill it with fire!

 

[KenBartline]

It has been a while for comments on this post. I lived for a while on a boat. It was not good for photogrpaphic equipmentI have some old Nikon lenses that formed enough mold to make them worthless. Prevention seems to be key, but perhaps it is worthwhile to mention a few things that I found out beyond dry storage and desiccants which I now use much more religiously. I explored other options.
1. UV-C is apparently good at preventing mold on the surface of things, but does not penetrate glass and may damage coatings on lenses (from a post by a director of photography on a forum) One photographer found it discolored the paint on his lenses. Very damaging to eye tissue. 2. Paraformaldehyde reacts with many metals including aluminum, copper, brass. I know that some of my lenses and camera includes magnesium. (I wonder about lens coatings in the presence of formaldehyde.) I intend to use this to some paraformaldehyde packets fumigate my camera vest and backpack when in an airtight box in storage. The box would then be opened out of doors. There is no residual effect to paraformaldehyde gas, so 3. Acetic acid (white vinegar) works as a surface wipe for storage boxes. I know that this acid will damage unpainted metals. I wonder if anyone has new information on the issue of mold and camera equipment.

http://resources.culturalheritage.org/osg-postprints/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2015/03/osg001-01.pdf

 

[maltfalc]

amateur mycologist with over 2 decades of experience here. the one and only thing that is necessary to kill or prevent the growth of fungus on camera gear is to avoid high humidity, period. all the other hairbrained schemes people come up with on forums like this are a waste of time at best and at worst could damage your camera, burn down your house or kill you.

 

[gone]

One of the more "interesting" threads here. I'm not a mycologist, but lived in Florida and other places w/ high humidity, including Portland (you would not believe how much it rains/drizzles there), Hawaii, the Caribbean, etc. Also lived through more than a few hurricanes and floods. Don't remember ever seeing a camera that exhibited the sort of fungus/mold that the op had but anything is possible.

Fungus and mold are different but both are fungi. It's airborne and all around us. Humidity, lack of light and heat will encourage it's growth. So don't keep optical equipment in bags. Many lenses can suck it inside while focusing, and it may even have been present during the lens assembly at the factory. It loves to eat the balsam between cemented elements because balsam is organic. UV may stop it's growth, but there are different types of UV. UVB will be mostly blocked by glass, but not UVA, which causes skin cancer. Sunglasses are usually coated to stop some of it.

We would get mold on the shady side of our house in Florida, but plain old soap and water removed it. Inside was a different story, and I had to call in a professional. Had to leave the house while he sprayed something so potent even my neighbor complained about his eyes burning. The guy used a full respirator to apply it too. Also got it inside the A/C/heat ducts because some of the duct work under the house had ruptured and mold got inside. If it gets in your lungs, watch out! The duct work could have been repaired and cleaned, but it was cheaper to have it replaced.

 

[mshchem]

One of the more "interesting" threads here. I'm not a mycologist, but lived in Florida and other places w/ high humidity, including Portland (you would not believe how much it rains/drizzles there), Hawaii, the Caribbean, etc. Also lived through more than a few hurricanes and floods. Don't remember ever seeing a camera that exhibited the sort of fungus/mold that the op had but anything is possible.

Fungus and mold are different but both are fungi. It's airborne and all around us. Humidity, lack of light and heat will encourage it's growth. So don't keep optical equipment in bags. Many lenses can suck it inside while focusing, and it may even have been present during the lens assembly at the factory. It loves to eat the balsam between cemented elements because balsam is organic. UV may stop it's growth, but there are different types of UV. UVB will be mostly blocked by glass, but not UVA, which causes skin cancer. Sunglasses are usually coated to stop some of it.

We would get mold on the shady side of our house in Florida, but plain old soap and water removed it. Inside was a different story, and I had to call in a professional. Had to leave the house while he sprayed something so potent even my neighbor complained about his eyes burning. The guy used a full respirator to apply it too. Also got it inside the A/C/heat ducts because some of the duct work under the house had ruptured and mold got inside. If it gets in your lungs, watch out! The duct work could have been repaired and cleaned, but it was cheaper to have it replaced.

I've said for years it will be a fungus that does in humanity.