Mycotoxins from mould infested building materials

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Mycology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Limited data exists on non-allergenic toxic reactions from inhaling microfungal spores in water-damaged buildings.
• Mycotoxins produced by indoor fungi are increasingly recognized as potential causative agents.
• Dominant fungal genera in buildings are often known mycotoxin producers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the production of mycotoxins by common fungal species found in water-damaged buildings.
• To identify specific mycotoxins associated with non-allergenic toxic reactions.
• To assess the potential health risks posed by fungal spore inhalation in indoor environments.

Main Methods:

• Identification of dominant fungal genera in water-damaged building materials.
• Analysis of mycotoxin production by these fungal isolates under building material growth conditions.
• Review of existing literature on mycotoxin toxicity and associated health effects.

Main Results:

• Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus ustus appear not to produce known mycotoxins on building materials.
• Several species, including Penicillium brevicompactum (mycophenolic acid), P. polonicum (verrucosidin, verrucofortine), and Aspergillus versicolor (sterigmatocystins), produce specific mycotoxins.
• Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus, Alternaria spp., Chaetomium globosum, and Stachybotrys chartarum isolates produce a range of mycotoxins including nigragillin, ochratoxin A, alternariol, chaetoglobosins, and trichothecenes.

Conclusions:

• Specific microfungal species commonly found in water-damaged buildings are capable of producing a variety of mycotoxins.
• The presence of these mycotoxins contributes to the understanding of non-allergenic toxic reactions following spore inhalation.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the toxicological profiles and health impacts of these indoor fungal metabolites.