Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins are produced as a consequence of fungal metabolism. While the fungi represent a very large population of organisms, most important mycotoxins are produced by a subpopulation of fungi commonly known as molds. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites in that the organisms that produce them do not need to produce them to survive. Indeed, it is not known why molds produce mycotoxins, but we do know that the production of mycotoxins has important consequences for man and his animals. The ingestion of certain mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxins) can be an important cause of liver cancer in humans. Also, the ingestion of certain mycotoxins (e.g., trichothecene mycotoxins like the satratoxins of Stachybotrys chartarum) can be important causes of poisonings in horses when they ingest hay on which the above mentioned organism has grown. In addition, the trichothecene mycotoxins of Stachybotrys chartarum have recently been shown to be in the air of water damaged buildings (WDB) infested with this organism, where they can be inhaled. These toxins have actually been shown to be in the bodies of people inhabiting these buildings. These trichothecene mycotoxins are highly toxic, having been designated as “biological warfare weapons” by no less an authority than the Office of the Surgeon General and the United States Army. Therefore, it is no surprise that the presence of these toxins in the indoor environment is considered to be highly problematic. The consequences of exposure to these mycotoxins in WDB are a topic of great debate in the phenomenon known as “Sick Building Syndrome”. In this special issue devoted to mycotoxins, hopefully some of the questions regarding these important toxins will be answered.

Prof. Dr. David C. Straus
Guest Editor

Submission

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• mycotoxins
• molds
• aflatoxins
• satratoxins
• Stachybotrys chartarum
• water damaged buildings
• sick building syndrome