Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case Study
Infestation of interior walls of buildings with fungal mould is a reason for health concern which is exacerbated in energy-efficient buildings that limit air circulation. Both mycological and mycotoxicological studies are needed to determine the potential health hazards to residents. In this paper,...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/6/1602 |
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| author | Marlena Piontek Katarzyna Łuszczyńska |
| author_facet | Marlena Piontek Katarzyna Łuszczyńska |
| author_sort | Marlena Piontek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infestation of interior walls of buildings with fungal mould is a reason for health concern which is exacerbated in energy-efficient buildings that limit air circulation. Both mycological and mycotoxicological studies are needed to determine the potential health hazards to residents. In this paper, a rare case of the occurrence of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in an apartment building in the Lubuskie Province in Poland has been described. Isolated as the major constituent of a mixed mycobiota, its specific health relevance still needs to be carefully analyzed as its biochemical aptitude for the synthesis of mycotoxins may be expressed at different levels. Therefore, ecotoxicological tests were performed using two bioindicators: <i>Dugesia tigrina</i> Girard and <i>Daphnia magna</i> Straus. <i>D. tigrina</i> was used for the first time to examine the toxicity of <i>S. chartarum</i>. The ecotoxicological tests showed that the analyzed strain belonged to the third and fourth toxicity classes according to Liebmann’s classification. The strain of <i>S. chartarum</i> was moderately toxic on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) as a culture medium (toxicity class III), and slightly toxic on Malt Extract Agar (MEA) (toxicity class IV). Toxicity was additionally tested by instrumental analytical methods (LC-MS/MS). This method allowed for the identification of 13 metabolites (five metabolites reported for <i>Stachybotrys</i> and eight for unspecific metabolites). Spirocyclic drimanes were detected in considerable quantities (ng/g); a higher concentration was observed for stachybotryamide (109,000 on PDA and 62,500 on MEA) and lower for stachybotrylactam (27,100 on PDA and 46,300 on MEA). Both may explain the result observed through the bioindicators. Highly toxic compounds such as satratoxins were not found in the sample. This confirms the applicability of the two bioindicators, which also show mutual compatibility, as suitable tools to assess the toxicity of moulds. |
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| id | doaj.art-35207c514d5e451fae50244d299d25c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:16:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-35207c514d5e451fae50244d299d25c22023-11-21T10:23:52ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-03-01146160210.3390/en14061602Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case StudyMarlena Piontek0Katarzyna Łuszczyńska1Institute of Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, Licealna 9, PL 65-417 Zielona Góra, PolandInstitute of Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, Licealna 9, PL 65-417 Zielona Góra, PolandInfestation of interior walls of buildings with fungal mould is a reason for health concern which is exacerbated in energy-efficient buildings that limit air circulation. Both mycological and mycotoxicological studies are needed to determine the potential health hazards to residents. In this paper, a rare case of the occurrence of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in an apartment building in the Lubuskie Province in Poland has been described. Isolated as the major constituent of a mixed mycobiota, its specific health relevance still needs to be carefully analyzed as its biochemical aptitude for the synthesis of mycotoxins may be expressed at different levels. Therefore, ecotoxicological tests were performed using two bioindicators: <i>Dugesia tigrina</i> Girard and <i>Daphnia magna</i> Straus. <i>D. tigrina</i> was used for the first time to examine the toxicity of <i>S. chartarum</i>. The ecotoxicological tests showed that the analyzed strain belonged to the third and fourth toxicity classes according to Liebmann’s classification. The strain of <i>S. chartarum</i> was moderately toxic on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) as a culture medium (toxicity class III), and slightly toxic on Malt Extract Agar (MEA) (toxicity class IV). Toxicity was additionally tested by instrumental analytical methods (LC-MS/MS). This method allowed for the identification of 13 metabolites (five metabolites reported for <i>Stachybotrys</i> and eight for unspecific metabolites). Spirocyclic drimanes were detected in considerable quantities (ng/g); a higher concentration was observed for stachybotryamide (109,000 on PDA and 62,500 on MEA) and lower for stachybotrylactam (27,100 on PDA and 46,300 on MEA). Both may explain the result observed through the bioindicators. Highly toxic compounds such as satratoxins were not found in the sample. This confirms the applicability of the two bioindicators, which also show mutual compatibility, as suitable tools to assess the toxicity of moulds.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/6/1602biotestsmouldsindoor contaminationspirocyclic drimanesstachybotryamidestachybotrylactam |
| spellingShingle | Marlena Piontek Katarzyna Łuszczyńska Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case Study Energies biotests moulds indoor contamination spirocyclic drimanes stachybotryamide stachybotrylactam |
| title | Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case Study |
| title_full | Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case Study |
| title_short | Testing the Toxicity of <i>Stachybotrys chartarum</i> in Indoor Environments—A Case Study |
| title_sort | testing the toxicity of i stachybotrys chartarum i in indoor environments a case study |
| topic | biotests moulds indoor contamination spirocyclic drimanes stachybotryamide stachybotrylactam |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/6/1602 |
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