House Dust Commonly Contains Mycotoxins from Molds.
Molds (fungi) produce a wide range of toxins called mycotoxins. Some of the most common mycotoxins include alcohol (ethanol) produced by yeasts, aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus, ochratoxins produced by some Aspergillus and Penicillium species, strerigmatocystin produced by Aspergillus (especially Aspergillus versicolor) and trichothecenes produced by Fusarium, Stachybotrys and Memnoniella. Aflatoxins, ochratoxins and sterigmatocystin are strong carcinogens (cancer causing compounds) while trichothecenes are toxic to the immune and nervous systems. Mycotoxins can be absorbed by humans by the digestive tract from eating moldy food and/or by inhalation from living/working in moldy environments.
Mycotoxins are commonly found in house dust and house air- especially in homes with water damage or visible mold growth. A Swedish study measured mycotoxin levels in the dust and building materials from 57 water damaged buildings. Measurable mycotoxin levels were collected in 66% of the building samples and 51% of the dust samples. The most commonly collected mycotoxins in these samples included several trichothecene mycotoxins (such as Satratoxin and Verrucarol), aflatoxins, gliotoxin, sterigmatocystin, and trichodermol. This study was published in the November 2009 edition of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. Much more research on the health effects of exposure to indoor mycotoxins is needed..