Toxic Mold and indoor air quality – a review

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http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/secure/articles/pdfs/singh.pdf

Abstract

Indoor air quality issues associated with exposure to

moulds and their metabolites, mycotoxins, are becoming

of increasing importance. There are believed to be

about 1.5 million species of fungi of which more than

1000 species have evolved to exploit the built environment.

Sexually mature fungi produce large numbers of

spores that when airborne can be inhaled and

deposited on the mucosal surface of the upper airways

and in the eyes. Occupants of buildings may be

affected in any of a number of ways. Fungi and moulds

can contribute to the sick building syndrome or other

building related illnesses and some people can have an

allergic response. Such exposure to moulds and the

other fungi and their spores indoors is unavoidable

except when the most stringent air filtration or other

environmental measures are observed. The repeated

exposure to large amount of particular fungal propagules

is an important risk factor for the development of

specific allergic reactions. There are also a large

number of toxic mould metabolites which can have a

range of biological activities. Black Mould (Stachybotrys

chartarum), in particular has been implicated in

illnesses associated with living in damp houses. Reactions

may be severe as in recent reports of idiopathic

pulmonary haemorrhage in very young children in

Cleveland, Ohio. Although some governmental agencies

have published guidelines on mould assessment

and remediation most are very general in nature and

most focus on Black Mould as the major concern.