A Study of the Toxicity of Moulds Isolated from Dwellings

Abstract

An analysis of the toxicity of moulds isolated from 34 dwellings with mould-affected walls was performed. During the analysis 74 moulds strains were isolated, 17.5% of them were toxic. Detailed analysis by high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry of six toxic strains proved their ability to grow on building materials and produce mycotoxins. It was confirmed that the toxins stachybotrylactam, sterigmatocystin and roquefortin were produced on gypsum board and concrete by Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium chrysogenum, respectively. This is also the first report on the production of aflatoxin B1 and G1 by A. flavus on building materials. Extracts from A. versicolor, A. flavus, P. chrysogenum growing on building materials were found to have cytotoxic potential. It was found that some mycotoxin production may be reduced or may even vanish, when moulds grow on building materials. However, taking into consideration the appreciable amounts of some mycotoxins that were still produced on the building materials investigated, the study indicated a toxic risk in the mould-affected buildings analysed.

A critical review of producers of small lactone mycotoxins: patulin, penicillic acid and moniliformin

“…Some of the data may be incorrect connections between fungal species and penicillic acid because of carry over in the chromatographic system, or contamination by penicillic acid producing species. In the paper by Gutarowska et al (2010), Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus are reported to produce penicillic acid, and this has never been reported from these Aspergilli in any other papers. Again the isolates have not been accessioned in any fungal collection, but furthermore, the concomitant detection of penicillic acid and viridicatin indicates that the cultures of A. flavus and A. niger were contaminated with Penicillium cyclopium, which is a known producer of these two secondary metabolites.…”

“…Again the isolates have not been accessioned in any fungal collection, but furthermore, the concomitant detection of penicillic acid and viridicatin indicates that the cultures of A. flavus and A. niger were contaminated with Penicillium cyclopium, which is a known producer of these two secondary metabolites. In the control sample on malt extract agar (MEA) with no fungi inoculated, Gutarowska et al (2010) found kojic acid, indicating that a kojic acid producer had been growing in the barley malt before it was made into malt extract.…”

Database on the taxonomical characterisation and potential toxigenic capacities of microorganisms used for the industrial production of food enzymes and feed additives, which do not have a recommendation for Qualified Presumption of Safety

“…quinazolinones bioactive compound [112] roquefortine C mycotoxin [114,120,123,[131][132][133] rugulosin bioactive compound [134] secalonic acid mycotoxin [120,135] skyrin bioactive compound [134] Penicillium chrysogenum sorbicillactones A and B bioactive compound [114] sorbicillin bioactive compound [114] sorbicillinol bioactive compound [114] sorbivinetone bioactive compound [114] xanthocillin X bioactive compound [123] Penicilium citrinum (3S)-4,6-dihydro-8-mehoxy-3,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-3H-2-benzopyran bioactive compound [136] (3S)-6-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3,5-dimethylisochroman bioactive compound [136] 1,2,3,11b-tetrahydroquinolactacide bioactive compound [136] 2-(hept-5-enyl)-3-methyl-4-oxo-6,7,8,8a-tetrahydro-4H-pyrrolo[2,1-b]-1,3-oxazine bioactive compound [137] 2,4,5-trimethylbenzene-1,3-diol bioactive compound [137] 2,4-dihydroxy-3, 5,6-trimethylbenzoic acid bioactive compound [137] 3-methoxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one bioactive compound [137] 4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one bioactive compound [136] 5-methyl alternariol ether bioactive compound [137] Database on potential toxigenic capacities of microorganisms used for industrial production…”

Numerical Prediction Model for Fungal Growth Coupled with Hygrothermal Transfer in Building Materials

“…Many published studies have confirmed the presence of fungal contamination in indoor environments and it has been reported that fungal spores and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) emitted from fungi have adverse health effects [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Fungal growth in indoor environments is strongly related to the indoor physical and chemical conditions, such as atmospheric air temperature, relative humidity, hydrogen-ion exponent (pH) in free water and nutrients; therefore, a comprehensive prediction method must be developed to estimate fungal growth and the subsequent health risk of fungal contamination for exposed individuals.…”