Re: Hygienist Was: Mold Remediation

November 17, 2004

In a message dated 11/17/2004 9:44:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

barb1283@... writes:

I am trying to figure out if toxins can be detected in air??? I have room

that stinks which also contains antiques in their. They aren't damp so smell

either is just dust-? or toxins I am guessing-?

Mycotoxins in the air are what gives mold the musty smell. Antiques are

certainly known for harboring molds, it is on the list of what to avoid if one

is

hypersensitive to molds.

Mycotoxins can now be tested for - but it is expensive - hundreds of dollars.

Sue

November 17, 2004

In a message dated 11/17/2004 9:44:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

barb1283@... writes:

I am trying to figure out if toxins can be detected in air??? I have room

that stinks which also contains antiques in their. They aren't damp so smell

either is just dust-? or toxins I am guessing-?

Mycotoxins in the air are what gives mold the musty smell. Antiques are

certainly known for harboring molds, it is on the list of what to avoid if one

is

hypersensitive to molds.

Mycotoxins can now be tested for - but it is expensive - hundreds of dollars.

Sue

November 18, 2004

Hi,

Please provide any info you have on the test(s) for mycotoxins. It

was my understanding that, since they are chemical, there was not a

way to test them. It may be expensive but would like to know as much

about it so can make an informed decision.

Thanks!

winslake

>

> In a message dated 11/17/2004 9:44:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> barb1283@y... writes:

>

> I am trying to figure out if toxins can be detected in air??? I

have room

> that stinks which also contains antiques in their. They aren't

damp so smell

> either is just dust-? or toxins I am guessing-?

>

> Mycotoxins in the air are what gives mold the musty smell. Antiques

are

> certainly known for harboring molds, it is on the list of what to

avoid if one is

> hypersensitive to molds.

>

> Mycotoxins can now be tested for - but it is expensive - hundreds

of dollars.

>

> Sue

>

November 18, 2004

Hi,

Please provide any info you have on the test(s) for mycotoxins. It

was my understanding that, since they are chemical, there was not a

way to test them. It may be expensive but would like to know as much

about it so can make an informed decision.

Thanks!

winslake

>

> In a message dated 11/17/2004 9:44:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> barb1283@y... writes:

>

> I am trying to figure out if toxins can be detected in air??? I

have room

> that stinks which also contains antiques in their. They aren't

damp so smell

> either is just dust-? or toxins I am guessing-?

>

> Mycotoxins in the air are what gives mold the musty smell. Antiques

are

> certainly known for harboring molds, it is on the list of what to

avoid if one is

> hypersensitive to molds.

>

> Mycotoxins can now be tested for - but it is expensive - hundreds

of dollars.

>

> Sue

>

November 18, 2004

Winslake,

There are two ways to test for mycotoxins - HPLC or ELISA.

HPLC is very expensive and requires a larger sample than you can get

in most air sampling techniques. Also, samples analyzed by HPLC

after they have been cultured suggest the mold had the ability to

produce whatever mycotoxins but do not prove mycotoxins were

actually present in the environment tested. This has to do with

water activity differences between the agar plate and the

environmental surface the mold originated (such as wood framing).

However, you can reasonably predict which mycotoxins a certain

species of mold can produce if you use the right literature.

Another way is an ELISA test that uses antibodies from animals. The

antibodies are sensitive and react to the presence of a target group

fo mycotoxins such as macrocyclic trichothecenes. While this test

is promising becasue it can be used in many differnet ways, it still

has hurdles as far as proof. My personal opinion is the testing

could result in false negative results due to factors I'm not going

to get into at this time. This test is much more economical and

detects levels lower than HPLC testing can detect.

If you have Stachybotrys chartarum and gram negative bacteria

growing next to each other, you can assume mycotoxin production is

highly probable since the gram negative bacteria requires very high

water activity levels. The only real confounders are nutrients,

temperature and time.

Save your money. If you smell the mold and can identify the mold

and bacteria, get it corrected. Microbial volatile organic

compounds (mVOCs) are responsible for the odor. This is an

offgassing which suggests something is alive and respirating or the

odor would not be there. Keep in mind that Streptomyces bacteria is

very common in these scenarios and my suggest chronic moiture

problems. If someone does an inspection with testing, make sure

they test for bacteria as well as mold.

Labs that test for mycotoxins with HPLC:

PK Jarvis

Aerotech

Romer

Regards,

Greg Weatherman

aerobioLogical Solutions Inc.

Arlington VA 22202

gw@...

***************************************************

> >

> > In a message dated 11/17/2004 9:44:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> > barb1283@y... writes:

> >

> > I am trying to figure out if toxins can be detected in air???

I

> have room

> > that stinks which also contains antiques in their. They aren't

> damp so smell

> > either is just dust-? or toxins I am guessing-?

> >

> > Mycotoxins in the air are what gives mold the musty smell.

Antiques

> are

> > certainly known for harboring molds, it is on the list of what

to

> avoid if one is

> > hypersensitive to molds.

> >

> > Mycotoxins can now be tested for - but it is expensive -

hundreds

> of dollars.

> >

> > Sue

> >

November 18, 2004