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Toxicity screening of materials from buildings with fungal indoor air quality problems (Stachybotrys chartarum)

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Abstract

Samples of building materials visibly contaminated with moisture-related fungi (drywall, fiberglass, wallpaper, wood) were tested with indirect (FFL) and direct (MTT) cytotoxicity screening tests that are particularly sensitive toStachybotrys chartarum toxins. In addition, microscopic, chemical, immunochemical (Roridin A enzyme immunoassay) and mycological culture analyses were performed. In all cases in which building occupants had reported verifiable skin, mucous membrane, respiratory, central nervous system or neuropsychological abnormalities, cytotoxicity was identified. Results of a cytotoxicity screening test of field samples, such as the direct MTT test method, will give investigators of health problems related to indoor air quality problems important toxicity information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dep. Community Medicine, Eastern New York Occupational and Environmental Health Center, Albany, N.Y.

    Johanning E

  2. Institute for Microbiology and Toxicology, Federal Meat Research Institute, Kulmbach, Germany

    Gareis M

  3. P&K Microbiology, Cherry Hill, NJ

    Yang Chin S

  4. National Veterinary and Food Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland

    Hintikka E-L

  5. National Veterinary and Food Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland

    Nikulin M

  6. Dep Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD

    Jarvis B

  7. Institute for Hygiene and Technology of Food of Animal Origin, Veterinary Faculty, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Dietrich R

Authors
  1. Johanning E
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  2. Gareis M
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  3. Yang Chin S
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  4. Hintikka E-L
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  5. Nikulin M
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  6. Jarvis B
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  7. Dietrich R
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Correspondence to Johanning E.

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E, J., M, G., S, Y.C. et al. Toxicity screening of materials from buildings with fungal indoor air quality problems (Stachybotrys chartarum). Mycotox Res 14, 60–73 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945095

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945095

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