The toxins produced by three species of fungi that thrive in wallpaper, aerosolize and become easily inhalable, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. In this form, they become dangerous to health and can cause “sick building syndrome”.
Many fungi can grow on building materials in indoor environments if the humidity is high enough. Among the frequently observed species, some are potent producers of mycotoxins. This presence of fungi in indoor environments raises the question of the possible exposure of occupants to these toxic compounds through inhalation.
To understand the activity and presence of these toxins, researchers at the University of Toulouse in France studied the production of mycotoxins by Penicillium brevicompactum, Aspergillus versicolor and Stachybotrys chartarum during their growth on wallpaper and checked for contamination. air.
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The air becomes toxic
“In this study, we demonstrated that three different toxigenic species produce mycotoxins during their development on the wallpaper. These toxins can then end up in the air, at least in part. This transfer to the air requires air speeds that can be encountered in “real living conditions” in buildings, ”concludes Brankica Aleksic, researcher at the University of Toulouse and author of the study.
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