What are Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxins produced by some species of mold (myco means fungal). These mycotoxins are some of the most toxic substances in existence.
Types of Mycotoxins
Some of the different types of mycotoxins are:
- Aflatoxins (produced by Aspergillus) – includes Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2
- Ochratoxin – includes Ochratoxin A, B, and C
- Trichothecene (produced by Stachybotrys) – includes Satratoxin-H, Vomitoxin and T-2 mycotoxins
- Fumonisins – includes Fumonisin B1 and B2
- Zearalenone
Size of Mycotoxins
Like mold spores, mycotoxins are too small for us to see with the naked eye. Mycotoxins are as small as 0.1 microns. Mold spores are between 1 and 20 microns. Human hair, for comparison, is about 100 microns thick.
How Mycotoxins Enter the Human Body
When people are around toxic mold they are usually exposed to airborne mycotoxins by breathing them in. These mycotoxins end up in the lungs and cause breathing problems and other severe symptoms. The symptoms caused by Stachybotrys (often called toxic black mold) are at the Toxic Black Mold Symptoms page.
Mycotoxins in the air can also enter through a person’s eyes. Trichothecene mycotoxins can be absorbed through the skin as well. Another way mycotoxins get into a person’s body is by the person eating food with mycotoxins in it. This can happen if toxic mold has been growing on crops. Many mycotoxins, for example trichothecene, remain toxic even after being cooked. This is one reason why mycotoxins are a big problem in agriculture. A binding agent is used on crops such as grain after harvesting to remove mycotoxins.
