Toxic Black Mold Spores and Mycotoxins
Toxic Black Mold Spores
Like other molds, toxic black mold (aka Stachybotrys chartarum) reproduces through spreading spores. The spores of toxic black mold are both allergenic and toxic as they carry mycotoxins on them.
In toxic black mold the spores are contained within a slimy, gelatinous mass. The spores themselves are a brownish color although they cannot be seen with the naked eye of course. Under the microscope toxic black mold spores look similar to a dandelion with clusters of spores growing at the end of a "stem" called hyphae.
Toxic Black Mold Spore Production
The wet coating of toxic black mold generally prevents the spores from becoming airborne, however if the mold dries out from lack of a moisture source or is disturbed large numbers of spores may enter the air. This is why you should not disturb or try to remove toxic black mold if you find it in your home. During toxic black mold removal great caution is needed to contain the release of spores and mycotoxins.
When toxic black mold does dry out and is releasing spores its surface might change from wet and slimy to powdery in appearance. Fluctuations in humidity in the environment of toxic black mold can also cause it to sporulate.
Toxic black mold spores are heavy compared to other mold spores and so do not remain in the air for very long. If the spores do not land on a suitable surface to grow on toxic black mold spores die soon after being released, however dead spores are still allergenic and toxic because of the mycotoxins present on them.
Photo of toxic black mold (Stachybotrys) spores under a microscope
Toxic Black Mold Mycotoxins
Toxic black mold is toxic to humans because of the mycotoxins it produces. These mycotoxins can be found in all parts of toxic black mold.
Trichothecene Mycotoxins
Toxic black mold produces Trichothecenes, a group of mycotoxins. Trichothecene mycotoxins are extremely toxic. The following Trichothecenes are found in toxic black mold, with Satratoxin mycotoxins being the most abundant:
- Cyclosporin
- Roridin E
- Satratoxin F, G and H
- Sporidesmin G
- Stachybotryolactone
- Trichoverrol
- Trichoverrin
- Verrucarin J
Toxic Black Mold Mycotoxin Production
Although toxic black mold can produce mycotoxins it doesn't do so all the time. Factors affecting whether toxic black mold produces mycotoxins include the material toxic black mold is growing on, temperature, humidity and perhaps other unknown conditions.
Environmental conditions which are suitable for toxic black mold to produce mycotoxins are 55% or higher humidity along with fluctuating temperatures. Stress may also cause toxic black mold to produce mycotoxins. When it is growing on certain materials toxic black mold might not produce mycotoxins.
Toxic Black Mold Mycotoxin Exposure
A person might suffer toxic symptoms from toxic black mold mycotoxin exposure by ingestion of mycotoxin contaminated food. Toxic black mold can contaminate crops such as grains and can survive cooking. However crops are treated to remove mycotoxins after harvest.
Besides through ingestion, people can also be poisoned by toxic black mold mycotoxins through inhalation. In tests on animals toxic black mold mycotoxins have been found to be 40 times more toxic when inhaled compared to when ingested.
A person might suffer toxic symptoms by breathing in airborne toxic black mold spores which contain mycotoxins or breathing in fragments of the mold which can also become airborne and also contain mycotoxins. When toxic black mold is growing inside houses the occupants are of course affected primarily through breathing in the mycotoxins.
Toxic black mold mycotoxins can also enter into a person's body through the skin.
Toxic Black Mold Mycotoxins in Agriculture
Besides in buildings, toxic black mold mycotoxins have also been a problem outdoors in agriculture. In the 1930s and 40s there was an outbreak of stachybotryotoxicosis in farm animals in Eastern Europe.
Since then much of the toxicity and effects of ingesting toxic black mold mycotoxins have been observed in animals. Horses in particular are affected by mycotoxins and reportedly a horse will died from ingesting as little as 1mg of trichothecene mycotoxins.
Toxic black mold mycotoxins contaminating harvests such as grains, corn, coffee and soy are also a problem for agriculture. However crops are treated after harvest to remove mycotoxins and minimize human mycotoxin exposure through ingestion.