Mass spectrometry-based strategy for direct detection and quantification of some mycotoxins produced by Stachybotrys and Aspergillus spp. in indoor environments.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Level 5 by design analogy; laboratory analytical chemistry study of environmental and dust samples with no human subjects.
PubMed 17483261 · doi:10.1128/AEM.00343-07
What was done
Researchers evaluated mass spectrometry methods to detect and quantify mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus and Stachybotrys species in buildings with active dampness or a history of water damage. Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was applied to analyze trichodermin, verrucarol, and trichodermol (hydrolysis products of macrocyclic trichothecenes). High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to measure sterigmatocystin, satratoxin G, and satratoxin H across building materials, settled dust above floor level, and cultured airborne dust.
What was found
Target mycotoxin analytes were confirmed in 45 of 62 building material samples, in 3 of 8 settled dust samples, and in 5 of 8 cultures of airborne dust samples. Specific quantitative concentrations were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
The study shows that tandem mass spectrometry can directly identify toxic fungal metabolites, including sterigmatocystin and macrocyclic trichothecenes, in dust settled on indoor surfaces above floor level and in water-damaged building materials.
Limits
The abstract describes a small set of dust samples (n = 8 settled dust, n = 8 airborne dust cultures) and reports no numerical concentration values or detection thresholds. No non-damp control environments were reported in the abstract, and human exposure or clinical health outcomes were not assessed.
Cited by
- supports Stachybotrys and Aspergillus are molds that produce and secrete mycotoxins that affect human health.