Straus, Molds,Mycotoxins,and SBS

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Molds, mycotoxins, and sick building syndrome

C Straus

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA,

david.straus@...

Abstract

The following is a review of some of the work we have done since 2004 regarding

the importance of molds and their mycotoxins in the phenomenon of sick building

syndrome (SBS). In these studies we showed that the macrocyclic trichothecene

mycotoxins (MTM) of Stachybotrys chartarum (SC) are easily dissociated from the

surface of the organism as it grows and could therefore be consequently spread

in buildings as the fungus experiences additional water events. We then showed

that SC and Penicillium chrysogenum (PC) colonies remain viable long after a

water source has been removed, and the MTM produced by SC remain toxic over

extended periods of time. We next showed that PC when inhaled, can release in

vivo, a protease allergen that can cause a significant allergic inflammatory

reaction in the lungs of mice. We then showed, in a laboratory study, that the

MTM of SC can become airborne attached to spores or SC particulates smaller than

spores. Following that study, we next showed that the same phenomenon actually

occurred in SC infested buildings where people were complaining of health

problems potentially associated with SBS. Finally, we were able to demonstrate

the presence of MTM in the sera of individuals who had been exposed to SC in

indoor environments. This last study was done with enough mold exposed

individuals to allow for the statistical significance of SC exposure to be

evaluated.

http://tih.sagepub.com/content/25/9-10/617.abstract

FROM

Isolation and Identification of Aspergillus fumigatus Mycotoxins on Growth

Medium and Some Building Materials

http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/68/10/4871