The Hidden Dangers of Mold and Mycotoxin Exposure

Mold toxicity illness has been a well-known problem in integrative medicine for many years but now it is becoming more recognized in conventional medicine with the greater awareness of mycotoxin problems coming from environmental and food sources. There is almost a seemingly endless list of chronic health problems that could be linked to mold exposure. Therefore, it is important for the layperson and health practitioner alike to have a working knowledge of common molds and their respective mycotoxins. 

What Are Molds?

Molds are fungi that can be found in both indoor and outdoor environments (1). Exact numbers of fungi species don’t exist, but estimates are tens to hundreds of thousands. Molds grow best in warm, damp and humid conditions, but they can survive in harsh, dry environments too. Common indoor molds are aspergillus, alternaria, cladosporium and penicillium. Aspergillus is a common mold people are exposed to and can often lead to respiratory problems of nasal congestion, itchy eyes and chronic cough (2,3). In severe cases, aspergillus can lead to respiratory illnesses, including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and invasive aspergillosis (4).  

There are many known species of aspergillus, but only a few are known to commonly infect humans. Of these, Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common. Others include A. flavus, A. terreus, and A. niger. These molds can produce mycotoxins which are specialized chemicals that can cause toxic effects. For example, aspergillus mold species produce aflatoxins which are extremely toxic and can damage the liver, immune system, and are known to be carcinogenic (5). 

A less common, but extremely dangerous mold is Stachybotrys chartarum. This black-greenish mold can be found in water damaged buildings and produces a variety of very toxic mycotoxins called trichothecenes which are damaging to the brain and nervous system (6).   

What Are Some Health Issues Linked To Molds?

As mentioned previously, mycotoxins are specialized chemicals produced from various molds that can have toxic effects on the body. Unlike bacterial toxins, these are not proteins and are not usually detected by the immune system. Mycotoxins disrupt cellular processes such as protein, DNA and RNA synthesis. They can also cause mitochondrial damage and deplete glutathione (7).  

A short list of mycotoxin problems is as follows:

• Abdominal pain and bowel changes 
• Headaches.
• Cancer
• Convulsions and other neurological conditions
• Disruption of sleep
• Immune suppression
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Nausea and vomiting

What Are Some Food Sources of Molds?

The problem with mycotoxins is the insidious nature of ongoing exposure either from environmental sources, e.g. home/building water damage or food. For example, common foods often contaminated with mold, e.g. aspergillus, penicillium are the following (8):

• Beans
• Cereal
• Coffee
• Corn
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Fruit – berries, grapes, citrus (peel), dried fruit
• Meat
• Milk
• Peanuts
• Rice and other grains
• Wine

Therefore, avoiding mold all the time is nearly impossible. However, recognizing that certain foods like berries, corn and corn products, rice and other grains are common sources of mold that by reducing consumption or making sure to eat fresh sources is helpful. 

What Are Some Other Mycotoxin Examples?

There are many medically significant mycotoxins that exist. Not all are common sources for people, so the list that follows are those that would be expected to cause health issues for people exposed to the molds discussed previously:

• Aflatoxin
• Citrinin
• Chaetoglobosin A
• Enniatin
• Gliotoxin
• Mycophenolic
• Ochratoxin
• Roridin E
• Sterigmatocystin
• Verrucarin
• Zearalenone

Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin are two mycotoxins commonly acquired through food (9). They are produced by aspergillus mold. The trichothecenes which include Roridin E, Verrucarin and Zearalenone can all be produced by stachybotrys.  

Mold Treatment Options

One of the first steps of mold treatment is elimination of the source. This can mean elimination or reduction of foods known to often be contaminated with mold and/or removal from a building or home contaminated from mold. Minimally, home mold remediation is necessary if the source of toxic mold is coming from water damaged building material. 

There are various other treatments which may help too such as antifungal medication, dietary changes, antioxidant therapy, sauna detoxification and botanical supplements. 

References:

1. More, T. T., Yan, S., Tyagi, R. D. & Surampalli, R. Y. Potential use of filamentous fungi for wastewater sludge treatment. Bioresour Technol 101, 7691-7700, doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.05.033 (2010).
2. 2. Nielsen, K. F. et al. Production of mycotoxins on artificially and naturally infested building materials. Mycopathologia 145, 43-56 (1999).
3. 3.Vonberg, R. P. & Gastmeier, P. Nosocomial aspergillosis in outbreak settings. J Hosp Infect 63, 246-254, doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2006.02.014 (2006).
4. Horner, W. E., Helbling, A., Salvaggio, J. E. & Lehrer, S. B. Fungal allergens. Clin Microbiol Rev 8, 161-179 (1995).
5. Huynh, V. L., Gerdes, R. G. & Lloyd, A. B. Synthesis and degradation of aflatoxins by Aspergillus parasiticus. II. Comparative toxicity and mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 and its autolytic breakdown products. Aust J Biol Sci 37, 123-129 (1984).
6. Hodgson, M. J.; Morey, P.; Leung, W. Y.; Morrow, L.; Miller, D.; Jarvis, B. B.; Robbins, H.; Halsey, J. F.; Storey, E. Building-associated pulmonary disease from exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor. J Occup Environ Med 1998, 40, 241-249.
7. Guilford, F. T.; Hope, J. Deficient glutathione in the pathophysiology of mycotoxin-related illness. Toxins (Basel) 2014, 6, 608-623.
8. Vardon, P. J. M., C.; Nardinelli, C. Potential economic costs of mycotoxins in the United States.  In Mycotoxins: Risks in Plant, Animal, and Human Systems; Task Force Report.  (2003).
9. Krogh, P. Mycotoxin tolerances in foodstuffs. Ann Nutr Aliment 31, 411-414 (1977).