The Hidden Health Dangers Of Mycotoxins In Mold

Mycotoxins are substances made by some types of fungi and mold, and they are commonly found in our environment at low levels. Health concerns may arise when someone is exposed to very high levels of mycotoxins or has difficulty processing them in their body.

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Mycotoxin-related health issues can be challenging to identify. Although the list of possible symptoms associated with mycotoxin exposure is broad, some scientific studies have explored links between mycotoxin exposure and certain health conditions, such as:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Chronic fatigue
• Chronic sinusitis
• Asthma
• Sarcoidosis  
• Neurobehavioral challenges, such as difficulties with short-term memory, concentration, and executive function

Mycotoxin Facts

When considering the need for mycotoxin testing, it is important to understand each person’s home and work environment. Here are some points to keep in mind:

• Molds are very common in buildings and homes
• Mold can grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding
• People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds
• People with weakened immune systems or underlying lung conditions may be more susceptible to fungal infections and increased risk from molds
  

How Do Practitioners Screen for Mycotoxins?

Low levels of mycotoxins are often found in the urine of healthy adults; therefore, urine is a common method of testing, although nasal secretions, sputum, or tissue samples can also be used.

Urine mycotoxin testing can help assess recent exposure to mycotoxins or how someone is processing these substances from their body.

Things to Keep in Mind Prior to Testing

• Each lab uses its own values for what is considered a “normal” reference range for mycotoxins, so it’s important to follow each lab’s standard ranges.
• Most labs recommend against using any sort of provoking agents before urinary mycotoxin testing (such as charcoal or glutathione) as they may affect the urinary levels of mycotoxins.

The Most Popular Mycotoxin Tests

Here are some commonly ordered mycotoxin tests:

MycoTOX

Mosaic Diagnostics (formerly Great Plains) offers the MycoTOX test, which uses a method for detecting mycotoxins known as advanced mass spectrometry combined with liquid chromatography (LC-MS). Numerous studies support the use of LC-MS in the detection of mycotoxins.

Mosaic Diagnostics uses a method for creatinine correction on each individual sample. One key consideration in any urine test is the potential for dilution or concentration based on how much water someone has had to drink. Mosaic Diagnostics addresses this by adjusting the sample in accordance with an individual’s urinary creatinine level. It can detect mycotoxin levels down to the parts per trillion (ppt).

Total Mycotoxin Panel

RealTime Laboratories offers a Total Mycotoxin Panel, which uses a method for mycotoxin detection. They created an ELISA immunoassay that detects the presence of mycotoxins in urine using antibodies directed to specific toxins. A validation study of this technique was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2009. Real-Time Labs was recently granted a US patent for one of its mycotoxin tests.

It can detect mycotoxins down to 0.2 ppb for trichothecenes, 1.0 ppb for aflatoxins, and 2.0 ppb for ochratoxins.

Are These Tests Accredited?

Mosaic Diagnostics and Real-Time Laboratories are CLIA-certified. CLIA stands for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments and is the result of a 1988 congressional amendment that created quality and reliability standards for laboratories. CLIA certifications verify that the lab has met the quality and analytic standards necessary to ensure accurate and reliable results.

The CLIA standards do not address the clinical utility of a test. FDA approval of a test assures that the test has adequate clinical validation and that it is safe and effective at what it claims to test for. To date, there are no FDA-certified urinary mycotoxin tests.  

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Summary

Mycotoxin-related health issues can range from fatigue to more severe challenges. As we experience more extreme weather with increased flooding and storms, there may be a rise in mycotoxin-related concerns.

Clinical history and professional experience play a significant role in understanding and managing mycotoxin-related health issues. Keep in mind that there is ongoing discussion about what reference ranges to use for mycotoxin testing, so it’s important to follow each lab’s standard ranges.