Test For Mycotoxins

Mycotoxin Test Kit: Now more than ever the potential health effects of mycotoxin, produced by various fungi growing in the indoor environment, are being given serious consideration due to its potential health hazards. Mycotoxins affect occupants in buildings primarily through inhalation.

The chemical substance cytotoxins can cause cell disruption and interfere with essential cellular process. Some mycotoxin are potent carcinogenics, some are vasoactive, and some penetrate the blood-brain barrier to cause Central Nervous System (CNS) effect. The assessment of the extent of mycotoxin contamination by using the Mycotoxin Test Kit is the essential step in reducing exposure to such toxin and their effects.

The Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory at Pure Air Control Services provides an ELISA based technique (Limit of Detection is 0.14 parts per billion) for the rapid screening of trichothecene mycotoxin.

Suggested Sampling Locations for Mycotoxins:

**IMPORTANT** At least 1 gram (or 1 tablespoon) of solid dust collection is needed for analysis.
1. Carpet: This Mycotoxin Test Kit is designed to collect dust from a carpet, so it’ll be best not to vacuum the floor in advance too closely to the date of the test. (See Sampling Instructions)
2. Heavy Dust Collection: Even If you do not have any carpet to sample, you can collect dust from almost any surface as long as there is a heavy dust build-up available for sampling.

Test for Mycotoxins – Common Symptoms to look for:

Cold-like symptoms, rashes, sinus inflammation, eye irritation, aggravation of asthma, inability to concentrate or fatigue

What are Mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are essentially a chemical compound that is generated by fungi that are toxigenic. A few examples are aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, and more. Mold types can also produce mycotoxins, such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Penicillium, Fusarium, Stachybotrys, and others. Just because a Mold type can generate Mycotoxins doesn’t mean that they always produce them. Mycotoxin Test Kit can help identify if this is actually happening. Some Mycotoxins are produced by multiple different molds, and some molds can produce multiple different mycotoxins. Mycotoxins travel on tiny spores, growth structures, or other small particles created by fungi and molds.

Mycotoxin Testing

Testing for Mycotoxin first became common as part of food safety precautions. The most well-studied pathway for mycotoxin exposure is through ingestion, and inhalation.  There is a large body of published research regarding the health effects associated with mycotoxin though inhalation and ingestion. These effects can include cancer and neurotoxicity. It is important to test indoor environments for the presence of Mycotoxins as the first stage of mitigation/remediation. Get the indoor environmental Mycotoxin Test Kit today.