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. © 2010 SAGE Publications.