Effect of different antifungals on the control of paper biodeterioration caused by fungi

The inhibition of some fungal strains responsible for paper biodeterioration is reported. Antimicrobials (butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT and butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA), azole antifungals (econazole, miconazole and ketoconazole) and chitin synthase inhibitors (uridine, 5-fluorouridine, 2-deoxyuridine) have been assessed for efficacy against Penicillium chrysogenum Thom, Aspergillus terreus Thom, Stachybotrys atra Corda and Chaetomium elatum Kunze, fungal strains isolated from deteriorated papers. Our results have shown that the most evident inhibiting effect on fungal growth has been obtained with miconazole and econazole at 10−3 M.