Killing Mold

A mycotoxin is a toxic chemical produced by mode fungus, including mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. The term ‘mycotoxin’ is usually reserved for the relatively small amount of toxic chemical products formed as secondary metabolites by fungi that readily colonize crops in the field or after harvest. Most fungi use oxygen and are found almost everywhere in extremely small quantities due to the minute size of their spores. They consume organic matter wherever humidity and temperature are sufficient. One mold species may produce many different mycotoxins and/or the same mycotoxin as another species.

Where conditions are right, fungi proliferate into colonies and mycotoxin levels become high. The reason for the production of mycotoxins is most likely to be part of the molds defense mechanism and is dependent on the surrounding environment. The toxins vary greatly in their toxicity, depending on the organism infected and its susceptibility, metabolism, and defense mechanisms. Some of the health effects found in animals and humans include death, identifiable diseases or health problems, weakened immune systems without specificity to a toxin, and as allergens or irritants. Some mycotoxins are harmful to other micro-organisms such as other fungi or even bacteria; penicillin is one example.

Mycotoxins can appear in the food chain as a result of fungal infection of crops, either by being eaten directly by humans, or by being used as livestock feed. Mycotoxins resist decomposition or being broken down in digestion, so they remain in the food chain in meat and dairy products. Even temperature treatments, such as cooking and freezing, do not destroy most mycotoxins.

Although various wild mushrooms contain an assortment of poisons that are definitely fungal metabolites causing noteworthy health problems for humans, they are rather arbitrarily excluded from discussions of mycotoxicology. In such cases the distinction is based on the size of the producing fungus and human intention. Mycotoxin exposure is almost always accidental, however, improper identification and ingestion of toxic mushrooms will cause mushroom poisoning. Ingestion of misidentified mushrooms containing mycotoxins may result in hallucinations. The cyclopeptide-produced Amanita phalloide is well known for its toxic potential and is responsible for approximately 90% of all mushroom fatalities. The other primary mycotoxin groups found in mushrooms include: orellanine, monomethylhydrazine, disulfiram-like, hallucinogenic indoles, muscarinic, isoxazole, and gastrointestinal specific irritants.

Even after careful and through mold remediation that removes the fungus and spores, the Mycotoxins remain and should be dealt with separately. Most of the time, wiping a formerly mold infested area with water, detergent and ammonia does the job of Mycotoxins though not always.