Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.2
Mycotoxins Produced by Common
Fungal Species
Genus/species
Mycotoxin
Penicillium
sp.
Patulin
P. verrucosum
Ochratoxin A
Citrinin
Citroviriden
Emodein
Egliotoxin
Verruculogen
Secalonic acid D
Aspergillus
A. flavus
Aflatoxin (B
)
1
A. parasiticus
Aflatoxin (B
)
1
A. versicolor
Sterigmatocysin
A. ochraceus
Ochratoxin A
A. clavatus
Patulin
Stachybotrys chartarum
T-2
Nivalenol
Deoxnivalenol
Diacetooxyscirpenol
Saratoxin H
Spirolactone
Fusarium
sp.
Zearalenone
Fumonisins
Paecelomyces variatii
Patulin
of the trichothecene family such as saratoxin H and G and verucarin A and
B, as well as others such as trichovarin A and B.
The trichothecenes are macrocyclic compounds with both olefinic and
epoxy groups. In addition to
Stachybotrys,
the trichothecenes are produced
by species in the genera
Trichothecium, Fusarium, Myrothecium
,
Trichoderma
,
and
Cephalosporium
. Trichothecenes associated with species of the genus
Fusarium
(which occurs widely in nature as both a saprobe and parasite on
plants) have received considerable scientific attention. Mycotoxins produced
by
species include the highly toxic compounds T-2 and DON (deox-
ynivalenol).
Fusarium
spores are commonly collected in outdoor samples
and less commonly indoors.
Though mycotoxins are produced by mycelia, high concentrations are
often found in spores. Concentrations of aflatoxin as high as 200 ppm w/w
have been reported in the asexual spores of
Fusarium
A. flavus
and
A. parasiticus
. Very
high mycotoxin levels are also found in the spores of
. As such,
spores have the potential to cause significant risk of mycotoxin exposure.
Limited studies have confirmed the presence of mycotoxins in airborne
samples in problem environments.
Stachybotrys
