Toxic Mold Paper (1)
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Stachybotrys chartarum
: A Significant Health Concern in the United States?
Group: 37
Today
Stachybotrys chartarum
is one of the most feared fungi. Despite its connection in
multiple cases of illness, such as allergic reactions and Idiopathic Pulmonary
Hemorrhaging, claims that this fungus is the causative agent is yet to be fully proven. That
being said, we have concluded, given the evidence up to date, that
S. chartarum
is, in fact,
a significant health concern in the United States.
S. chartarum
is a saprophytic micromycete known to grow in the presence of
moisture. Different mycotoxins, including trichothecenes and the immunosuppressive
phenyl spirodrimanes, cause its toxigenic properties. These secondary metabolites are
known to be harmful to both humans and animals. Trichothecenes, particularly Satratoxin
H in the case of
S. chartarum
, are protein inhibitors associated with diseases such as
stachybotryotoxicosis. Inhalation, physical contact, or ingestion of satratoxin results in
chest pain, fever, nose bleeds, pulmonary hemorrhaging, fatigue, and headache. Given the
similarities between the symptoms of the mycotoxins produced by
S. chartarum
and the
symptoms reported in cases such as the IPH babies and sick-building syndrome, it can be
inferred that this fungus is not only related, but should also be considered dangerous.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemorrhaging, or IPH, is a condition that causes bleeding in
the lower respiratory tract, specifically in the alveoli of the lungs. In 1993 and 1994, nearly
30 infants were hospitalized in Cleveland within two months, all showing symptoms such
as bleeding lungs, coughing up blood, and nosebleeds. All the infants were from the same
zip code, a low-income neighborhood that had experienced recent heavy rains and
flooding. It is also important to note that after treating the infants, many developed
symptoms again after being reintroduced to their homes. Investigating the homes found
that each residence had high levels of
Stachybotrys chartarum
spores, most containing
significant levels of stachylysin, a hemolysin involved in the lysis or breakdown of red
blood cells
.
All infants experienced symptoms corresponding with IPH. All affected infants
resided in homes with recent flooding, which resulted in perfect conditions for mold to
grow, all residences had high levels of
S. chartarum
in the houses, and many contained
stachylysin. So, although the CDC currently maintains some criticism of the researchers in
this case, there is still a strong correlation between IPH and
S. chartarum.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is somewhat hard to define, as it carries a wide non-
specific variety of symptoms and causes. Cases of SBS largely follow the advent of
modern office spaces, cubicles, and skyscrapers. The first reports of SBS appeared in the
1960s and 1970s, and in the 1980s SBS entered the public consciousness. The symptoms of
SBS include but are not limited to mild respiratory infections, headaches, and general
malaise or fatigue. The main commonality between these symptoms is that they only occur
while the individual is working inside the building and not anywhere else. Workplaces with
an occurrence of sick building syndrome usually contain mechanical ventilation
(Specifically HVAC), a poor indoor layout or design of the building, a lack of regularly
followed maintenance arrangement, or usage of materials such as fabric that are poorly
suited for the work environment. Additionally, older buildings that contain original
furnishings from the building’s construction are likely to have SBS, though new buildings
can still have cases. This is due to toxic volatile fumes released from the materials. These
materials were initially deemed safe but are now highly regulated. A study performed by
Trevor L. Brasel et al. in 2003 was able to extract and determine trichothecene mycotoxins
present in human sera from individuals exposed to poor indoor air quality environments
and buildings that have experienced indoor flooding. While it is possible SBS is purely
from volatile materials, its presence in newer buildings without any of those materials
makes it less likely. Since many of the buildings fitting the criteria of SBS also match the
requirements for the propagation of
S. chartarum,
such as flooding and poor ventilation.
In conclusion, there is some debate on whether
Stachybotrys chartarum
is directly
linked to various health crises across the country. Despite this, the symptoms exhibited by
those affected and the conditions patients lived or worked in are too similar to
S.
chartarum
for these to be passed off as purely coincidental.
S. chartarum
can cause
significant harm to those exposed to it and should be taken seriously as a major health
concern.
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Works Cited
Bitnun, A, and R M Nosal. “Stachybotrys Chartarum (Atra) Contamination of the Indoor
Environment: Health Implications.”
Paediatrics & Child Health
, U.S. National Library of
Medicine, Mar. 1999, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828207/.
Brasel, T. L., et al.. “Detection of Trichothecene Mycotoxins in Sera from Individuals
Exposed to Stachybotrys Chartarum in Indoor Environments”.
Archives of Environmental
Health: An International Journal
, vol. 58, no. 6, Archives of Environmental Health: An
International Journal, 2003, pp. 317–23, doi:10.3200/aeoh.58.6.317-323.
Dyląg, Mariusz, et al. “Update on
Stachybotrys Chartarum
-Black Mold Perceived as
Toxigenic and Potentially Pathogenic to Humans.”
Biology
, U.S. National Library of
Medicine, 23 Feb. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8945704/.
“Fungal Glossary.”
Clean Air Sciences
, 12 Jan. 2018,
https://www.cleanairsciences.com/fungal-glossary/.
Joshi, Sumedha M. “The sick building syndrome.” Indian journal of occupational and
environmental medicine vol. 12,2 (2008): 61-4. doi:10.4103/0019-5278.43262
Nelson, Berlin D. “Stachybotrys Chartarum: The Toxic Indoor Mold.”
Stachybotrys
Chartarum: The Toxic Indoor Mold, APSnet Features
, 2001,
https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/apsnetfeatures/Pages/Stachybotrys.aspx.
Passarelli, G. R.. “Sick Building Syndrome: An Overview to Raise Awareness.”
Journal of
Building Appraisal
, vol. 5, no. 1, Journal of Building Appraisal, 2009, pp. 55–66,
doi:10.1057/jba.2009.20.
Tg. “ToxicBlackMould.”
Trichothecenes Mycotoxins- Mould Related Disease
,
http://www.blackmould.me.uk/trichothecenes%20toxins.html.
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