Trichothecene mycotoxins in the dust of ventilation systems in office buildings

Smoragiewicz, Wanda; Cossette, Bruno; Boutard, Armel; Krzystyniak, Krzysztof

doi:10.1007/bf00405729

Cited by 83 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Trichothecenes are found in aerosolized conidia, so inhalation of aerosols containing high spore concentrations is a potential health hazard (241). T-2, diacetoxyscirpenol, roridine A, and T-2 tetraol have been detected in the dust from office ventilation systems (240).…”

Section: Indoor Air Quality and Sick-building Syndromementioning

confidence: 99%

Mycotoxins

2003

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Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by microfungi that are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals. Because of their pharmacological activity, some mycotoxins or mycotoxin derivatives have found use as antibiotics, growth promotants, and other kinds of drugs; still others have been implicated as chemical warfare agents. This review focuses on the most important ones associated with human and veterinary diseases, including aflatoxin, citrinin, ergot akaloids, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, trichothecenes, and zearalenone

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Section: Indoor Air Quality and Sick-building Syndromementioning

confidence: 99%

Mycotoxins

2003

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“…There are at least 21 different mycotoxin classes (71), with over 400 individual toxins produced by at least 350 fungi (38,53,192,334,335,390,420). They are all complex organic compounds of 200 to 800 kD and are not volatile at ambient temperatures.…”

Section: Mycotoxinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Mold, Toxigenic Fungi, andStachybotrys chartarum: Infectious Disease Perspective

2003

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Damp buildings often have a moldy smell or obvious mold growth; some molds are human pathogens. This has caused concern regarding health effects of moldy indoor environments and has resulted in many studies of moisture- and mold-damaged buildings. Recently, there have been reports of severe illness as a result of indoor mold exposure, particularly due to Stachybotrys chartarum. While many authors describe a direct relationship between fungal contamination and illness, close examination of the literature reveals a confusing picture. Here, we review the evidence regarding indoor mold exposure and mycotoxicosis, with an emphasis on S. chartarum. We also examine possible end-organ effects, including pulmonary, immunologic, neurologic, and oncologic disorders. We discuss the Cleveland infant idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage reports in detail, since they provided important impetus for concerns about Stachybotrys. Some valid concerns exist regarding the relationship between indoor mold exposure and human disease. Review of the literature reveals certain fungus-disease associations in humans, including ergotism (Claviceps species), alimentary toxic aleukia (Fusarium), and liver disease (Aspergillys). While many papers suggest a similar relationship between Stachybotrys and human disease, the studies nearly uniformly suffer from significant methodological flaws, making their findings inconclusive. As a result, we have not found well-substantiated supportive evidence of serious illness due to Stachybotrys exposure in the contemporary environment. To address issues of indoor mold-related illness, there is an urgent need for studies using objective markers of illness, relevant animal models, proper epidemiologic techniques, and examination of confounding factors

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“…However, research that effectively demonstrates the presence of airborne S. chartarum trichothecene mycotoxins in native indoor environments is lacking. Studies have mostly focused on detecting these mycotoxins on bulk material (47) or in settled dust (43). The aim of this study was to determine if airborne macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins exist in indoor environments contaminated with Stachybotrys chartarum, with an emphasis on the development of simple and rapid collection/detection techniques.…”

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confidence: 99%

Detection of AirborneStachybotrys chartarumMacrocyclic Trichothecene Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment

Brasel

Martin

Carriker

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

114

103

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The existence of airborne mycotoxins in mold-contaminated buildings has long been hypothesized to be a potential occupant health risk. However, little work has been done to demonstrate the presence of these compounds in such environments. The presence of airborne macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins in indoor environments with known Stachybotrys chartarum contamination was therefore investigated. In seven buildings, air was collected using a high-volume liquid impaction bioaerosol sampler (SpinCon PAS 450-10) under static or disturbed conditions. An additional building was sampled using an Andersen GPS-1 PUF sampler modified to separate and collect particulates smaller than conidia. Four control buildings (i.e., no detectable S. chartarum growth or history of water damage) and outdoor air were also tested. Samples were analyzed using a macrocyclic trichothecene-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA specificity was tested using phosphate-buffered saline extracts of the fungal genera Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Memnoniella, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma, five Stachybotrys strains, and the indoor air allergens Can f 1, Der p 1, and Fel d 1. For test buildings, the results showed that detectable toxin concentrations increased with the sampling time and short periods of air disturbance. Trichothecene values ranged from <10 to >1,300 pg/m 3 of sampled air. The control environments demonstrated statistically significantly (P < 0.001) lower levels of airborne trichothecenes. ELISA specificity experiments demonstrated a high specificity for the trichothecene-producing strain of S. chartarum. Our data indicate that airborne macrocyclic trichothecenes can exist in Stachybotrys-contaminated buildings, and this should be taken into consideration in future indoor air quality investigations.For the past 25 years, there has been growing concern about the presence of fungi and their adverse human health effects in indoor environments. Several genera of fungi, including Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, and Aspergillus, have raised particular concern because of their associated toxin production. To date, the majority of indoor air quality investigations have focused on analyses of mold growth on building materials (1,18,35,40) and measurements of airborne particulate matter, including dust, fungal conidia (6, 20), and animal danders (13). These types of investigations cannot directly assess occupant exposure to mycotoxins. Exposure to these factors can influence allergic hypersensitivity responses (2, 9, 29) and symptoms of asthma in certain individuals (11, 30) but most likely does not account for often-reported symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, nose bleeds, physical and mental fatigue, and neurological disorders (28, 39) seen in subjects occupying sick buildings.Among the many fungi isolated from contaminated indoor environments, Stachybotrys chartarum is one of the most well known. S. chartarum is a known producer of a number of potent mycotoxins, in particular the macrocyclic tricho...

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Trichothecene mycotoxins in the dust of ventilation systems in office buildings

Cited by 83 publications

References 12 publications

Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins

Indoor Mold, Toxigenic Fungi, andStachybotrys chartarum: Infectious Disease Perspective

Detection of AirborneStachybotrys chartarumMacrocyclic Trichothecene Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment

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