due to indoor environmental toxigenic mold exposures (abstract + full article)

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(http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?

xmlFilePath=journals/ijto/vol3n1/nigrum.xml)

Abstract

Background: Toxigenic mold exposures are shown to lead to illnesses

most of which are just being unraveled. This paper reports the

findings in cases of 12 white female office workers who presented

with symptoms of neuropsychological illnesses, most likely, due to

indoor environmental toxigenic mold exposures. Their major complaints

were: weakness and numbness in both legs, dizziness, loss of memory,

light-headedness and vertigo, fatigue, getting lost in familiar

territory, and confused thoughts.

Methods: Immunologic, basic EEG, and comprehensive neuropsychological

tests were carried out on the subjects to evaluate determine the

extent of their neuropsychological impairments.

Results: Abnormal antibodies to Alternaria tenuis, Pullularia

pullulans, and Epicoccum nigrum antigens were found in all the

subjects' serum. EEG examination was abnormal all the subjects with

10 Hz posterior dominant activities in 6 out of 12, which were

synchronous, symmetrical and attenuated on eye opening and eye-

closure. There was an evidence of tremor of the extremities in 3

subjects. Gross neuropsychological abnormalities including those

observed in the brain-damaged population and significantly below non-

brain damaged functioning were observed. These findings seem to

indicate that chronic exposures to Alternaria tenuis, Pullularia

pullulans, and Epicoccum nigrum might have neuropsychological

effects, and that most likely, only one abnormal antibody to

toxigenic mold antigen could have the most dominant adverse toxic

exertion leading to the observed neuropsychological effects.

Conclusion: It is concluded therefore, that chronic exposures to

certain toxigenic molds might lead to neuropsychological

manifestations and that although, it is acknowledged that the

contaminations of the indoor environment by toxigenic molds are

directly related to the adverse health effects on the occupants,

there could be a situation where such relationship does not exist.