- TOXIC CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES -
WHAT ARE MYCOTOXINS?
Mycotoxins (myco as a prefix meaning fungal) are toxic chemical substances produced by certain types of fungi, typically molds, as a part of its metabolic process - any process to sustain life, such as converting food into energy. Mycotoxins can be produced by mold as a defense mechanism to survive against other fungi, bacteria, viruses, insects, etc. competing for the same nutrients. While the danger of mycotoxins has been well-known and regulated in the food and agriculture industries for decades, little attention has been paid to the most predominant way that we are exposed to mycotoxins - the air we breathe in our homes.
These toxins serve as a defense mechanism for the fungi, but they pose serious risks to human health when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Since mycotoxins are chemicals produced by mold, once created, they no longer need an active mold colony to survive and cannot be broken down by conventional methods.
According to US Energy Administration data, 66 million homes in the U.S. are affected by the conditions that create mycotoxins. Monitoring and controlling mold growth is critical to reducing the risk of mycotoxin transmission and contamination.
- LEARN MORE ABOUT MYCOTOXINS -
TYPES OF MYCOTOXINS
Several hundred different mycotoxins have been identified, but the most commonly observed mycotoxins that present a concern to human health include aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, and fumonisins. One mold species may produce many different types of mycotoxins, and several species may produce the same mycotoxins.
It should be noted that not all types of mold produce mycotoxins and there does not seem to be a correlation between the amount of visible mold and the levels of mycotoxins detected.
- FAQs -
FACTS ABOUT MYCOTOXINS
Mycotoxin production is influenced by numerous factors. The species of mold that is growing is one of the most influential factors. A few other important environmental factors that affect the production of mycotoxins are temperature, relative humidity, surface moisture, and nutrient availability.
Mycotoxin is a term coined in 1962 after an unusual veterinary crisis near London, England, during which around 100,000 turkey poults died.
Over 500 different mycotoxins have been identified.
Mycotoxins primarily cause damage to cells, tissues, and organs through oxidative stress, immune system dysregulation, neurological damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Mycotoxins can cross the blood-brain barrier, causing neuronal damage, brain inflammation, neurochemical imbalance and behavioral changes. Some mycotoxins damage the dopaminergic system, resulting in motor and neuropsychiatric conditions such as PANS/PANDAS.
Fat soluble toxins, such as mycotoxins, can be difficult to get rid of because they store in the fat cells, cell membrane, brain, heart, liver etc. Many people experience neuroinflammation from mold toxicity because the brain is made mostly of fat.
T-2 mycotoxins (trichothecene) have been used as a biological warfare weapon.
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SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE TO MYCOTOXINS
According to the World Health Organization, "mycotoxins can cause a variety of adverse health effects and pose a serious health threat to humans." Mycotoxin exposure can trigger a wide range of symptoms and contribute to various health conditions, often depending on the individual’s sensitivity and the extent of exposure. People with weakened immune systems, such as children, the elderly, or those with pre-existing conditions.Â
As knowledge about the medical aspects of mold sensitivity increases, it is becoming evident that a small but significant portion of the population has a genetic makeup that prevents them from being able to eliminate mycotoxins from their bodies as effectively as most people. In some of the more severe cases, the immune system of the individual breaks down almost none of the mycotoxins. Their blood and bodily systems accumulate these toxic chemicals as a result. These poisons cause a variety of diseases, as do their body’s futile attempts to eliminate them.
Common Symptoms of Mycotoxin Exposure
- Anxiety/Depression
- Allergic Conjunctivitis (red, itchy, watery eyes)
- Cognitive Impairments
- Coughing, Shortness of Breath
- Headaches
- Sinus/Nasal Congestion
- Sneezing
- Sore Throat
Conditions of Mycotoxin Exposure
Respiratory Diseases
- Asthma
- Allergic RhinitisÂ
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Hypersensitivity PneumonitisÂ
- Chronic Sinusitis
- Pulmonary Hemorrhage
Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Leaky Gut Syndrome
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Candida Overgrowth
- Chronic Malabsorption Syndrome
Immunological Issues
- Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)
- PANDAS/PANS (autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder in children)
- Immune Suppression
- Psoriasis
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
- Immune Suppression (increased infections)
Cancer Risks
- Liver Cancer
- Renal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
Eye and Vision Problems
- Eye Irritation
- Blurred Vision
- Optic Neuritis
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Thyroid Dysfunction
- Adrenal Fatigue
Neurological Disorders
- Neurotoxicity (confusion, memory loss, headaches)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Depression & Anxiety
- Seizures
- TinnitusÂ
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Bipolar Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Parkinson’s Disease-like symptoms
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Reproductive and Developmental Disorders
- Infertility
- Miscarriages and Stillbirths
- Congenital Disabilities (if exposed during pregnancy)
- Developmental Delays in children
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Hypogonadism
Cardiovascular Issues
- Myocarditis (heart inflammation)
- HypertensionÂ
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Liver and Kidney Diseases
- Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
- Nephrotoxicity (kidney damage)
Skin Conditions
- Dermatitis
- Skin Fungal Infections
- Rashes and Hives
- KNOW THE DIFFERENCE -
MOLD SPORES VS. MYCOTOXINS
Although both can negatively impact health, it’s important to distinguish the difference between mold and mycotoxins. A mold organism completes several chemical reactions to sustain life as the mold grows. To sustain life, mold undergoes a variety of chemical reactions as it grows. At the cellular level, this chemical process is known as the mold's metabolism. Mold metabolism's main function is to transform food into energy and the components needed for the colony's physical growth. A secondary metabolite is anything produced by the chemical process of the mold that is not energy or a component of a growth structure. Mycotoxins are classified as a secondary component of the metabolic process since they are molecules that many species of mold make as a defense mechanism to safeguard the colony. Since mycotoxin production is an essential defense mechanism for mold, the poisons may not be produced if there is no bacterial or fungal competitor for the nutrients where the mold is growing. In essence, the greater the threat to the mold colony from competing organisms, the more likely that those molds that have the ability to chemically create poisons will do so.Â
Given mold spores and mycotoxins are not one in the same, it’s important to note that the health effects are not one in the same either. Mold spores can trigger allergic reactions such as irritation of the eyes, skin, throat, and lungs. This can result in respiratory issues like coughing and wheezing. However, acute poisoning, cancer, and illnesses can all be linked to mycotoxin exposure. While some people may not have any symptoms, mycotoxins are especially dangerous over the long term because symptoms are typically associated with severe neurological and neuropsychiatric signs.
WHY PARTICLE SIZE MATTERSÂ
To provide a frame of reference, 1 micron is 1/25,0000 of an inch. Generally speaking, the human eye can see particles 30 microns in size or greater. Some suggest that ultrafine particles, classified as 0.1 microns or less, account for roughly 90% of airborne particles. Inhaled ultrafine particles penetrate tissue in the lungs and enter the bloodstream, where they can be directly absorbed. Once absorbed into the bloodstream, ultrafine particles can affect any organ or part of the human body.Â
Direct access to the general circulation is made possible by inhalation, which distributes particles throughout the respiratory system, particularly in the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs in the lungs. They can then spread to other organs after entering the bloodstream. Furthermore, mycotoxins can pass through the nasal sensory epithelium’s olfactory and trigeminal nerve axons to enter the central nervous system via bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Mycotoxins are of great concern given they are ultrafine in particle size, allowing them to have a systemic effect throughout the body.
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CONTACT HEALTHY AIR USA
Call Healthy Air USA today or complete the form. A Healthy Air USA representative will contact you to discuss the symptoms you are experiencing, signs that mold in your environment may be the cause, and how Healthy Air USA's services may help.
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