What Are Mycotoxins?

When to Get Mycotoxin Testing

Mycotoxins are poisonous chemical compounds, which fungi (mold) produce as a byproduct. As the name implies, mycotoxins are toxins. Their molecules are lightweight easily floats throughout a structure and are freely breathed in and absorbed through skin of occupants. Mycotoxins are capable of causing multiple negative health symptoms, including illness, disease and even death in humans and other animals. They are often associated with serious health problems centered around neurological damage. They are measured most commonly through a urine test. American Mold Expert’s mycotoxin lab is also available to run urine mycotoxin tests if you want to check your body.

Mycotoxins can remain in a home even after professional mold removal and mold clearance pass, therefore we suggest environmental mycotoxin testing to our mold remediation clients.

Molds produce many different mycotoxins. The main types of mycotoxins that are measured today include Aflatoxins, Ochratoxin, Gilotoxin and Trichothecene. These light weight molecules are not destroyed by traditional mold removal techniques, therefore we recommend mycotoxin testing for anyone that experiences health issues that relate to mold.

Mycotoxin Health Problems

Mycotoxins have many effects on the human cell which, as a result, often results in a number of problems in normal cell functionality. Results may also cause a wide variety of clinical symptoms and diseases. The most common health issues associated with mycotoxins, include:

  • Kidney Toxicity
  • Immune Suppression
  • Memory Loss
  • Bloating
  • Autism
  • Neurotoxicity
  • Depression
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Muscle Spasms, numbness, tingling
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Aplastic Anemia
  • Birth Defects
  • Fatigue
  • Joint Pain
  • Internal Bleeding
  • Hearing Loss

Should You Consider Mycotoxin Testing?

If you, or anyone in your home, are experiencing any of the issues in the list above or any other health issues and believe that mold and/or mycotoxins is the cause, as a result, you should consider environmental mycotoxin testing. Also, anyone who has had a mold remediation should consider testing since a typical mold remediation does not always guarantee mycotoxin removal. American Mold Expert’s process does guarantee mycotoxin removal.

How Environmental Mycotoxin Testing Works

Mycotoxin chemical molecules are very small and light weight, therefore enabling them to travel easily through the air and sticking to dust particles. When gathering a sample, we look for dust to gather and return to the lab. Hence, making the furnace filter a good candidate for dust sampling. We also can take dust from additional areas. Our mycotoxin test detects 15 different mycotoxins, which includes 9 macrocyclic trichothecenes. Testing is done using competitive ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), a very sensitive detection method using antibodies prepared against mycotoxins.

All mycotoxin testing results are displayed in an easy-to-understand numeric format, showing detection levels in ppb as standardized by the FDA, WHO, CDC and Food Industry for clinical use. Results also tell if the test was positive, negative or equivocal, along with ranges of detection for each.

If you have mycotoxins in your home,  you still need to have a remediation, contact us to learn how we treat mycotoxins.

Furthermore, if you would like to learn more about environmental mycotoxins, feel free to visit these trusted reference links: