Fungi isolated from packaging materials: Their role in the production of 2, 4, 6‐trichloroanisole

Fungi isolated from fibreboard cartons, paper sacks and jute sacks were assessed for their ability to methylate 2, 4, 6‐trichlorophenol in a defined, reduced‐water‐activity growth medium. When extracts of individual cultures were analysed by gas chromatography‐multiple ion monitoring mass spectrometry, 17 of the 31 species, initially selected by sensory techniques, were found to produce 2, 4, 6‐trichloroanisole. Quantitative analyses showed that the most efficient methylators in the defined liquid medium were Paecilomyces variotii, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium crustosum, Pen citrinum, Pen brevicompactum and one strain of Aspergillus flavus. The role of these fungi in the production of 2, 4, 6‐trichloroanisole in packaging materials contaminated with 2, 4, 6‐trichlorophenol is discussed.