BLACK MOLD
Stachybotrys chartarum
Presented by:
KRISTIN B. LABASAN
ALEJANDRO DY
III-BSCT | PNU-MANILA
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What is Mold?
• Mold spores are simple, microscopic
organisms, found virtually everywhere
• Mold spores are very tiny and lightweight,
allowing them to waft (travel) through the
air
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How Does Mold Grow ?
• Water or moisture is necessary
• Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores
• Mold requires food sources such as leaves,
wood, paper products, wall board, insulation,
ceiling tiles and other organic based
materials.
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“Black Mold ” “Toxic Mold”
“Killer Mold”
Stachybotrys chartarum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Sordariomycet
es
Order:
Hypocreales
Genus:
Stachybotrys
Species:
S. chartarum
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“Black Mold ” “Toxic Mold”
“Killer Mold”
STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARUM:
• Dark greenish-black oily looking mold
• Grows on materials with high cellulose
content (like drywall sheetrock, dropped
ceiling tiles, and wood )
• Requires water saturated environment to
grow
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•Many molds are black in appearance
but are not Stachybotrys.
•For example, the black mold commonly
found between bathroom tiles is not
Stachybotrys.
•Stachybotrys can be positively
identified only be specially trained
professionals (e.g., mycologists) through
a microscopic exam.
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How can you be exposed to mold?
• When molds are disturbed, their spores
may be released into the air. You then
can be exposed to the spores through
the air you breath.
• Also, if you directly handle moldy
materials, you can be exposed to mold
and mold spores through contact with
your skin.
• Eating moldy foods or hand-to-mouth
contact after handling moldy materials is
yet another way you may be exposed.
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How can Stachybotrys chartarum
affect your health?
• There is inadequate evidence to support the
conclusion that exposure to mycotoxins in the
indoor environment is causally related to
symptoms or illness among building occupants.
• There is inadequate evidence to support
recommendations for greater urgency in cases
where mycotoxin-producing fungi have been
isolated.
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TOXINS
• There are two chemotypes in S. chartarum, one
that produce trichothecene mycotoxins (T-2) including
satratoxins and one that produce atranones.
• The atranone-producing chemotype of S.chartarum
does not induce toxicity, but instead induces inflamation
and exhibits moderate inhibition of protein synthesis.
• The trichothecene-producing chemotype of
S.chartarum, does not induce any inflammatory response,
but is highly toxic to macrophages and is a strong protein
synthesis inhibitor.
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TOXINS
trichothecene mycotoxins
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TOXICOLOGY AND TOXICOKINETICS
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Mechanisms of Action. The many mechanisms by which
Trichothecene mycotoxin (T-2) produce toxicity are varied:
inhibition of protein synthesis, thought to be the most important
effect
inhibition of DNA synthesis which might contribute to their
radiomimetic properties
impairment of ribosome function
inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis
induction of reparable single strand breaks in DNA
immunosuppression, allowing secondary and opportunistic
bacterial infections and possibly delayed hypersensitivity
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Symptoms
• Sever itching and redness of the skin, sores, shedding of
the skin
• Distortion of any of the senses, loss of the ability to
coordinate muscle movement
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Nose and throat pain, discharge from the nose, itching and
sneezing
• Cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain and
spitting up blood
• Temporary bleeding disorders
• Severe poisoning can result in weakness, shock and death.
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Treatment
Prevention of illness after contact: First, leave the area
where the T-2 mycotoxin was released and move to
fresh air.
Remove clothing.
– Then, quickly take off clothing that may have T-2 on it.
Wash affected areas.
– As quickly as possible, wash any T-2 from the skin with lots of soap
and water.
Discard contaminated items.
– Place the clothing and any other contaminated items inside a plastic
bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing
Treatment of illness:
– There is no specific treatment for T-2 poisoning. Supportive care
(intravenous fluids, medicine to control pain) is the standard
treatment.
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