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BLACK MOLD Stachybotrys chartarum. Presented by: KRISTIN B. LABASAN ALEJANDRO DY III-BSCT | PNU-MANILA. 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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BLACK MOLD Stachybotryschartarum Presented by: KRISTIN B. LABASAN ALEJANDRO DY III-BSCT | PNU-MANILA
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
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.
“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
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.
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.
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.
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.
TOXINS trichothecene mycotoxins
TOXICOLOGY AND TOXICOKINETICS Mechanisms of Action. The many mechanisms by which Trichothecenemycotoxin (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
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.
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.