Trichothecene Mycotoxin: A Challenge for Indoor Environmental Quality Investigat

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Trichothecene Mycotoxin: A Challenge for Indoor Environmental

Quality Investigations

Tamap, FL 11/04/2008 01:31 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=66851 & cat=15

TransWorldNews (press release) - Monroe,GA,USA

Tampa, Fl. November 4, 2008 -- Mycotoxins are chemical substance

produced by the fungal metabolic process. As a matter of fact, these

compounds are the secondary metabolites of fungal metabolism. Due to

the absence of common molecular feature, the chemical category of

these compounds is still not very certain. Commonly, the fungi

producing such chemicals are categories as toxigenic fungi.

Mycotoxin plays a pivotal role in regulating competition with other

microorganism besides helping the parasitic fungi in invading the

host tissues. These compounds may also effects human health

adversely. The kind and amount of mycotoxin produced by a fungus

depend on the fungal strain, the substrate it is metabolizing, and

possibly the presence and absence of other organisms.

Production of mycotoxins are also highly influenced by the

environmental factors especially growth substrate, temperature, pH

and others. Some of the mycotoxins are volatile in nature where as

others may be non-volatile. Scientists have identified over 400

mycotoxins and list is increasing day by day. Conversely, a single

fungal species may produce a number of mycotoxins. Over two hundred

other mycotoxins produced by Stachybotrys chartarum as well as

several other fungi like Acremonium, Fusarium, Trichoderma and

Trichothecium etc. Trichothecene is one of the most important

mycotoxin reported from indoor environment and very complex in

nature. It includes compounds like satratoxin, roridins, verucarins.

Therefore, it is essential to have an understanding about the

trichothecene mycotoxin in order to effectively evaluate a building

for its indoor environmental quality.

Mycotoxin and Indoor Environment

Fungal of toxic nature in indoor environment is growing concern

among the general public due to its health effect. Since, past

several years' emphasis has been placed on evaluating the role of

toxic fungi in indoor environments. An array of reference is

available about the toxigenic mold/fungi of indoor environment and

their health effects. The main cause of mold growth in a building

environment is poor or nonexistent maintenance commonly called

deferred maintenance beside moisture and water intrusion. The

requirements for mold growth vary by type of fungi. However, a

general condition includes:

Temperatures from 23°F to 140°F

Greater than 60% humidity

A fairly wide range of pH (mold does not grow well with extreme pH)

A suitable organic substrate

Due to the small size we cannot see the mold causing fungi until the

mycelium mass is developed. Though, the accumulation of mycotoxin

starts in the spores, mycelia and growth substrates on various

stages of life cycle of fungi depending on the fungal species and

stain beside environmental factors. Subsequently, exposure to

mycotoxin in the building occupants occurs due to aerosolization of

spores, mycelial fragments, and contact with these toxic materials

or even due to ingested colonized substrate.

Now, more than ever, the potential health effects of mycotoxin

produced by various fungi growing into the indoor environmental site

are being given serious consideration due to its potential health

hazards. Mycotoxins affect occupants in buildings primarily through

inhalation. These chemical substances are cytotoxins that cause cell

disruption and interfere with essential cellular process. Some

mycotoxin are potent carcinogenic, some are vasoactive, and some

penetrate the blood-brain barrier to cause Central Nervous System

(CNS) effect. The assessment of the extent of mycotoxin

contamination is the essential step in reducing exposure

to such toxin and their affects.

Some common fungi associated with trichothecene production include:

Acremonium

Cylindrocarpon

Fusarium

Myrothecium

Phomopsis

Stachybotrys

Trichoderma

Trichothecium

Detection and Estimation:

Detection and estimation of mycotoxin are not an essay task because

of its variable nature. Toxin production may also be influenced by

several environmental conditions such as medium, temperature and

competition with other microbes. This task is more complicated due

to nonuniform distribution, uncertainties in sampling and analysis

of mycotoxin. Some time even one fungi are capable of producing more

than one type of mycotoxin including many that remain

uncharacterized.

A number of techniques can detect and estimate mycotoxin. Some of

the prominent techniques include thin layer chromatography (TLC),

high performance liquid chromatography (HPCL) and gas chromatography-

mass spectrometer (GC-MS), Immunosorbent assay (ELISA), capillary

electrophoresis (CE) etc. However, analytical techniques for

mycotoxin analysis are improving day by day. Specially, due to

growing concern of indoor air quality and building related problems.

It is necessary to find a technique that can provide rapid, reliable

and authentic information about the quality and quantity of the

mycotoxin.

The Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory at Pure Air Control

Services provides an ELISA based technique (Limit of Detection is

0.14 parts per billion) for the rapid screening of trichothecene

mycotoxin. Environmental samples such as dry wall, carpet, office

supplies, air filter, dust and other like wise sample obtained from

various test sites like schools, homes, hospitals, work places and

other indoor environmental site are acceptable for trichothecene

mycotoxin evaluation. Also the portion of same sample can be use for

testing mold/fungi by performing addition tests.

A do-it-yourself screen test called Trichothecene Mycotoxin Check

(TMC) is available at www.IndoorAirTest.com or call 800-422-7873 ext

303 for more information.

About Pure Air Control Services/EDLab:

Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a

small mechanical contracting firm. Today, the work distributed from

its offices in Tampa, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Houston and

Washington D.C. sets the industry standard for indoor environmental

quality diagnosis and remediation.

Pure Air Control Services is a national provider of the following

IAQ services: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check;

Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab) an AIHA accredited

micro laboratory; Environmental Project Management; HVAC System

Cleaning and Mold Remediation Services, among other indoor

environmental services.

The company's expanding client roster includes the General Services

Administration (GSA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

Allstate Insurance; r Air Conditioning; Naval Air Warfare

Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and

many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state,

and county governments, making Pure Air Control Services the

reliable industry leader.

For official information on sampling protocol please contact EDLab.

Dr. Rajiv Sahay, CIAQP

Laboratory Director

Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab)

(800) 422-7873 ext. 304

Email: laboratory@...