Effects of toxic exposure to molds and mycotoxins in building-related illnesses

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1: Arch Environ Health. 2003 Jul;58(7):399-405. Related Articles,

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Effects of toxic exposure to molds and mycotoxins in building-

related illnesses.

Rea WJ, Didriksen N, Simon TR, Pan Y, Fenyves EJ, Griffiths B.

Environmental Health Center-Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75231-4262, USA.

wjr@...

The authors studied 100 patients who had been exposed to toxic molds

in their homes. The predominant molds identified were Alternaria,

Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, Curvularia,

Basidiomycetes, Myxomycetes, smuts, Epicoccus, Fusarium, Bipolaris,

and Rhizopus. A variety of tests were performed on all, or on

subgroups of, these patients. Sensitivities and exposures were

confirmed in all patients by intradermal skin testing for individual

molds (44-98% positive), and by measurement of serum antibodies.

Abnormalities in T and B cells, and subsets, were found in more than

80% of the patients. The findings of trichothecene toxin and

breakdown products in the urine, serum antibodies to molds, and

positive intradermal skin tests confirmed mycotoxin exposure.

Respiratory signs (e.g., rhinorrhea, sinus tenderness, wheezing)

were found in 64% of all patients, and physical signs and symptoms

of neurological dysfunction (e.g., inability to stand on the toes or

to walk a straight line with eyes closed, as well as short-term

memory loss) were identified in 70% of all patients. Objective

abnormal autonomic nervous system tests were positive in all 100

patients tested. Brain scans, conducted using triple-head single

photon emission computed tomography, were abnormal in 26 (86%) of 30

(subgroup of the 100) patients tested. Objective neuropsychological

evaluations of 46 of the patients who exhibited symptoms of

neurological impairment showed typical abnormalities in short-term

memory, executive function/judgment, concentration, and hand/eye

coordination.