Mycotoxins can have a serious impact on our health. Mycotoxins are microscopicfungal poisons that can sneak into our bodies through the digestive and respiratory systems. They are literal poisons that have the potential to make us very sick.
What’s even more shocking is we are now finding out how certain mycotoxins have the ability to impact the brain, causing neurotoxicity.
A 2011 review in the Journal of Molecular Science examined specific mycotoxins, which are known to impact the brain.
I want to take a closer look at how certain mycotoxins cause neurological damage and what can be done to prevent these scary invisible killers from infiltrating our lives.
But first, let’s take a step back and examine the basics.
What are mycotoxins, anyway?
Mycotoxins are created by microfungi. They’re the secondary metabolites which can make you very sick. Some mycotoxins are mildly annoying, like athlete’s foot, while others can be life-threatening.
When you’re made sick by mycotoxins you’re basically being poisoned. This is called mycotoxicosis. The symptoms of mycotoxicosis differ depending on the type of mycotoxin you’re exposed to, how long you’re exposed to it, the amount of the exposure, and your personal attributes such as age, gender, and health.
There are hundreds of factors that can impact how a mycotoxin exposure presents in your body, including:
- Vitamin deficiency
- Genetics
- Microbial disease
- Malnutrition
- Other diseases or conditions
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Low-caloric intake
How mycotoxins can impact your brain
Neurotoxicity refers to brain or peripheral nervous system damage. As you can imagine, it’s incredible dangerous and even deadly in some cases.
Toxins that cause neurotoxicity, or neurotoxins, can alter your brain activity through disrupting or even killing neurons.
This important review examined four mycotoxins known to induce neurotoxicity in rodent models, including:
- T-2 toxin – Known for inducing neuronal cell death in both fetal and adult brains.
- Macrocyclic trichothecenes – Causes neuronal cell death and inflammation in the olfactory system.
- Fumonisin B1 (FB1) – Causes neuronal degeneration in the cerebral cortex and disrupts ceramide synthesis (and important lipid in the brain).
- Ochratochin A (OTA) – Induces acute depletion of striatal dopamine, which has shown to cause cell death in the hippocampus, substantia nigra, and striatum (different parts of the brain).
These mycotoxins cause neurotoxicity, especially in oxidative stress-associated pathways. Oxidative stress-associated pathways are areas in your body that are particularly vulnerable to the imbalance between damaging free radicals and neutralizing antioxidants.
Because each of these mycotoxins are dangerous to your brain, let’s take a closer look at where they exist, how you can avoid them, and what they do to your body.
T-2 Toxin
T-2 Toxin is mostly found in corn, wheat, barley, and rice. It can infect these food items both while growing in the field and in storage. The only way to completely prevent exposure to T-2 toxin is to limit your intake of these crops.
This particular toxin has been linked to a number of diseases including alimentary toxic aleukia and red mold disease.
Symptoms of T-2 toxin mycotoxicosis usually occur within minutes to up to two hours after exposure, and how they present varies depending on the route of exposure. Symptoms of T-2 toxin mycotoxicosis include:
- Weakness
- Prostration (extreme weakness resulting in near or complete collapse)
- Dizziness
- Ataxia (loss of control over bodily movements)
- Loss of coordination
Symptoms by route of exposure:
- Transdermal exposure: Burning sensation, blistering, skin necrosis
- Gastrointestinal exposure: Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea
- Inhalation: Itching, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, blood tinged saliva
- Ocular: Blurred vision, eye pain, tearing, and redness
Ingesting T-2 toxin can result in alimentary toxic aleukia, which is a clinical syndrome. Symptoms of alimentary toxic aleukia include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin irritation, rash or itching
- Bleeding and hemorrhaging
- Dyspnea (labored breathing)
- Death
T-2 toxin inhibits protein synthesis through binding to peptidyl transferase. Enough of this binding can trigger a ribotoxic stress response. T-2 toxin also interferes with membrane phospholipid metabolism. T-2 also increases liver lipid peroxides or oxidative degradation of lipids, which is linked to all sorts of diseases.
This powerful and deadly toxin is bad news.
It also suppresses your ever-important glutathione S-transferases, which is needed to metabolize drugs.
And it messes with your mitochondria, leading to dysfunction. You need healthy mitochondria because they are the powerhouses of your cells. You could live weeks without food and days without water, but if your mitochondria are starved, you’ll die in seconds. This is how T-2 toxin is so dangerous.
You can be tested for T-2 toxin through your functional medicine doctor. You can have a complete panel of urinary mycotoxins through Real Time Labs or Great Plains Labs.
Macrocyclic trichothecenes
Macrocyclic trichothecenes is emitted from a fungus Stachybotrys chartarum, which grows on wet cellulose-containing building materials. Water-damaged wallboard, ceiling tiles, and cardboard commonly contain S. chartarum.
Chronic exposure to macrocyclic trichothecene has been linked to debilitating respiratory symptoms, damp building-related illnesses, immune system dysfunction, and neurological impairment.
Macrocyclic trichothecenes work by inhibiting protein synthesis and binding to proteins and other macromolecules. Exposure to macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins results in chronic inflammation and cell death, which damages neurological and pulmonary tissues and cells.
Symptoms of macrocyclic trichothecene exposure include:
- Weakness
- Ataxia (loss of control over bodily movements)
- Low blood pressure
- Bleeding disorders
- Death
You can be tested for macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins with the guidance of your functional medicine doctor. A complete panel of urinary mycotoxins can be taken through Real Time Labs or Great Plains Labs.
Fumonisin B1 (FB1)
Fumonisin B1 is considered one of the most abundant and toxic mycotoxins.
Fumonisin B1 is mostly found in corn and in various cereals. Your best chance of avoiding this toxin is through avoiding corn and cereal products, which is a good idea anyway since most corn is GMO and heavily treated with atrazine.
Fumonisin B1 disrupts sphingolipid synthesis, which are the fatty acids primarily found in the cell membranes of nervous and brain tissues.
Fumonisin B1 also inhibits protein synthesis, causes DNA fragmentation, increases lipid oxidation, and causes cell death.
The symptoms of Fumonisin B1 exposure include:
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Pressure in the head
- Convulsions
- Liver damage
Eventually, exposure to fumonisin B1 can cause death.
You can be tested for fumonisin B1 through your functional medicine doctor. You can have a complete panel of urinary mycotoxins through Real Time Labs or Great Plains Labs.
Ochratochin A (OTA)
Ochratochin A is found mostly in cereals and has a very long half-life, meaning is remains in the body for a long time and accumulates in the food chain.
The best way to avoid OTA is to reduce your cereal and grain consumption. OTA is also found in wine, beer, coffee, grapes, pork, poultry, dairy, spices, and chocolate.
Ochratochin A has been linked to kidney diseases and enzymuria. It’s also been found to be immunotoxic, neurotoxic, teratogenic, and genotoxic. OTA works through causing oxidative stress in the body, impairing your mitochondria, and inhibiting protein synthesis.
Symptoms of ochratochin A exposure include:
- Respiratory symptoms such as asthma
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Renal disease
- Night sweats
- Fungal skin rash
- Dizziness
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Hair loss
Ochratochin A is of particular concern because it’s believed to be responsible for significant oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins in the body. It’s believed that ochratochin A exposure can contribute to neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
I recommend being tested for ochratochin A through your functional medicine doctor if you suffer from any chronic symptoms especially brain fog. You can have a complete panel of urinary mycotoxins through Real Time Labs or Great Plains Labs.
Mycotoxins are more common than most realize
Mycotoxins are relatively unknown and yet they continue to impact our health in a serious way. Illness caused by mycotoxins present differently depending on numerous factors. You can be tested for mycotoxin exposure with the help of your functional medicine doctor and I seriously recommend it.
Mycotoxin exposure is much more common than most realize. This is one of the reasons I recommend avoiding grains in your diet and being wary of water damaged buildings. I also recommend being tested for mycotoxins if you suffer from any chronic conditions or any of the symptoms listed above. Talk to your doctor about how to best get an accurate test reading. Some patients who are very toxic will not excrete the mycotoxins in the urine without pretreatment with infrared sauna or liposomal glutathione.
Awareness is also critical and so I ask that you share this article with a friend or family member who may be suffering from mysterious chronic symptoms – it could be mold exposure that’s keeping you down.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3179161/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164220/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22729185
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210533615300411
http://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/communicabledisease/cdmanual/pdf/T2.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1903757/pdf/amjpathol00215-0087.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9154836
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3319232
https://www.realtimelab.com/clinical-test-panel/mycotoxin-testing/
https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/trichothecene/casedef.asp
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8843466
http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/ehc/en/ehc_219.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16621780
14 Comments
Hi my family and I have been exposed to high levels of mold in our property which is on section 8 program I’ve reported it to the landlord and the housing authority here in Atlanta also my whole family is ill with symptoms of 75% of what I saw in your blog I’ve taken my son to the hospital on many occasions and explained to the hospital that o thought it was due to the mold exposure unfortunately they are not able to make an indication because they didn’t take the time to find out because they were more concerned on how o was going to pay for services because our insurance was in another state instead they lied on the documents and just put the visits were for the his diabetes despite me telling them our visits were for the mold they don’t have the knowledge to make that determination and flat out wasn’t trying to help so could you please get back to me at the information below so that I can send you my reports I had to independently have done my family consists of 4 and 3 of us are disabled. Thank you and God bless
Hi Shonte,
You may find more information at survivingmold.com… best to you and your family in healing
warmly
Dr Jill
Hi Dr. Jill
How do you test for mycotoxins?
Many thanks,
Kari
Hi Kari – here’s more information for you – https://www.jillcarnahan.com/2015/02/08/toxic-mold-exposure-cause-symptoms
About four years ago I was exposed to a tremendous amount of indoor mold living in a home that had significant ongoing water damage. I’m beginning to realize I need to focus on mycotoxins but by experience with mold forced me to focus are the obvious which was the actual mold, the spores and the hype yet setting up residence in my body.
But at the same time I realized thatanyone who believes it’s the mycotoxins that cause concerns and that the mold and fungus itself is not an issue are mistaken.
I learned a great deal about mold and I’ve tried to share it with the authors reputable articles but I never get a reply.
I will list few things here without going into a lot of detail.These are not things anyone would ever learn from a petri dish that is why scientist will have to listen to people like me.
First of all I read about ice pick pain before I even read that I called it getting bites I kept saying I feel like I’m getting bites or needle sticks and one evening I felt terrible needlestick in the fatty part my thumb I looked down and I saw a black curly q string sticking out of my skin I didn’t even need a magnifying glass I use tweezers and I pulled on it it’s spring back and it felt like a piece of steel wool I pulled very hard and it broke off in my skin. From that time and over the next several years that same spot felt like there was a corkscrew turning in the muscle my hand. It was extremely painful. Research I found there was a mold called chaetomium and it’s I fear grows curly q strings and it’s described as being like steel wool. Not only will mode pierce your skin and embed itself even to the tissue it will also slice your skin. Many times I would just look at my hand or look in the mirror and see that I had a slice in my skin for no reason and when I went touch it it would just open up and I would see it was Mold inside.
This is the truth I’ve read requires a pre-existing opening to enter our bodies that’s not true it has the ability to penetrate straight through skin which is intact. One day I picked up a particular item and all of my fingertips felt like they have been pierced by a million I need needles poisonous needles pain and burning was unbelievable. I looked at my fingers immediately with a magnifying glass and there were millions of little hairs sticking out of my fingertips even some clusters of hairs protruding from my skin. I quickly brushed I cross my fingers it looked again and they were gone a whisper away but they remain embedded in my skin. 4 years after that tremendous experience especially during high humidity was horrible.. I have so much more to tell but too much for this platform. I’ll be glad to share everything I know learn the hard way by the way I’m still fighting mode it’s in my lips my ears all over my body.
Thank you for this article. I have known about the TRICOTHECENE MYCOTOXINS in ASPERGILLUS/PENNICILLUN and the toxic black mold, STACHYBOTRYS. Both have been found in my home, as well as other MOLDS, and many “allergienic molds” in my home after my roof was TOTALED by a hail storm in OCT. 2015. I have learned MOLD can start to form w/in 24-48 hrs on wet textile surfaces. My insurance co waited 6 months before one of their own PREFERRED PROVIDERS (per my request) came out and then PATCHED my 3400 sq ft roof in ONE day. Three months LATER I was hospitalized for 6 days of many tests. FINAL DIAGNOSIS “My LYMPHATIC SYSTEM is no longer working. PCP explained the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) goes up and down your spinal cord 4 times a day to clean out all toxins. From now on these toxins will be building up as FAT on my lymph glands or lymph nodes (?)”. (I hope I am stating what I remember her telling me). She went on to state, “My IMMUNE SYSTEM is no longer working and for life”. This was 4 months before STACHYBROTRYS (black toxic mold) was found in one of my guest bedrooms in Dec. ’16, remediated late Jan. ’17 and found to be the “legal liability” of the roofer and my insurance company.
Mid ’17, water was found behind a wall by remediator w/ an Infrared Camera, reported and nothing done. Water bubble formed, burst, dripping clear water then brown and wider water down the wall, reported every time w/ nothing done for 7-8 months w/ same room remediated a 2nd time.
More water intrusion early ’18 on opposite end of home, longer remediation time of 5 months being DISPLACED from my home. When the rotted, moldy “PATCHED” roof was being removed to have a 2nd good roof installed, I became even more sick and 9 visits to ER, other specialists w/ many ER visits between. I was soooo deathly sick, even diagnosed w/ Mycoplasma Pneumonia 3 times. Yet, I had all my Pneumonia shots, the PREVNAR 13 injection (for those over 65). I now realize I had HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONIA caused by many of the MOLDS found in my home on the BioLab reports.
I could not have the TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT needed for 3 yrs, postponed twice already since “I HAD TO BE AVAIL-
ABLE FOR WORKERS” per my insurance policy. I saw my Orthopedic Surgeon during the 5 months DISPLACED from my home to a hotel to try and schedule my TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT for the 3rd time since ’16. He found out about some of the lung diseases already diagnosed and how serious my lungs became. He then required a “Medical Lung Clearance” before he could schedule the surgery, stating my lungs may not be able to take general anesthesia. Pulmonary tests started and proved POSITIVE twice for Mycobacteria Avium Complex w/o Aids, w/o TB Lung Disease through 3-day spittum tests done a yr apart, then 4 CT Scans 3 and 6 months apart of chest/lungs proved CAVITARY LUNG DISEASE w/ a tethering nodule, once w/ a tethering neoplasm……continued watching of this scanning. A Broncho Flushing w/ long culturing proved ESBL Lung disease, very rare, highly irresistible to ANTIBIOTICS. The TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT can NOT be done w/ so many diagnosed lung diseases “directly caused from INHALING toxic mold spores”.
I keep trying to “educate” my claim reps of the MOLDS and how they have effected my health. i was totally “IGNORANT” of the damages MOLDS can be to your HEALTH as well as your PERSONAL PROPERTY and HOME until it happened to me. I had to get educated about the molds found in my home. Same above molds proven on the BioLab reports from Remediation which claim reps don’t read nor if they do they would not understand. The best BioLab listed some of the HEALTH EFFECTS next to the types of MOLDS found in the hard ID samples, air and tape samples. The insurance company used their own “Certified” Hygienist to “supposedly do a FINAL testing”. Yet on his report, it states it is a PRE-remediation test. Claim rep called me at hotel, stating, “Your home is LIVABLE per the Hygieniist” and to check out of the hotel on a certain date when the RESTORATION would be completed and my home thoroughly cleaned before returning. Neither of those were done when I returned home.
I read the “CERTIFIED” Hygienist report a/ no mention of the word “LIVABLE”. I found at the back of his report was attached info from the BioLab he used. It only listed the types of molds found and where they can be found growing. No mention in the BioLab report of HEALTH EFFECTS. In this BioLab report it was proven in my main living areas including my master bedroom exists high level of ASPERGILLUS/PENNICILLUN and one room w/ STACHYBOTRYS. The PREremediation test should have been followed w/ POST REMEDIATION. I should have never been sent to the hotel when the over 22,000 ASPERGILLUS/PENNICILLUN was first found before the 2nd remediation. My home is a SICK BLDG SYNDROME home. I have felt Neurotoxicity from the mold has started 6-9 months ago.
Your article further CONFIRMS I know WHY I have been so sick, fatigued, red, itchy eyes, nauseated a few months, 1/4 loss or so of my hair, some BONE PAIN below my knees to feet and from top part of arms to my elbows when laying in bed doing paper work and supported by this one arm…I fear BONE MARROW problems, as other health effects mentioned in the BioLab reports. Your article further CONFIRMS the “REASON” of former mentioned HEALTH EFFECTS”.
For others living w/ problems they can’t understand and haven’t been diagnosed……to your READERS…….ASK YOUR PCP to have you tested per Dr Jill’s article from REALTIME LABORATORIES, INC for possible MOLD growing in your home.
Before I finished the article and not seeing the lightly printed COVID-19 at the top, I started to think…….THIS COVID-19 may be BIOLOGICAL WARFARE w/ our Gov’t covering up this OBVIOUS (to me) reason the COVID-19 is going around the world. YIKES!
I started my symptoms in 2016 w/ the TOXIC MOLD growing in my home. I have started to see some Neurotoxicity going on the last 6 months or so. My brain is working SUPER on my hail claim, catching INSURANCE FRAUD, CONVERSION OF FUNDS, ABANDONING of the job(s), EXPLOITATION by both roofers, the restoration company hired to “repair” as well as a very RECOGNIZED U.S.Insurance Company w/ many entities. I won’t type the name knowing your site won’t print it. My background is one of four PRINCIPLES of a Lg Independent Insurance Agcy. I sold Personal Lines only and KNOW MY INSURANCE. I pay to have an ENDORSEMENT on my homeowners policy that promises to REBUILD your home if it is a total loss up to 1.50% of Coverage A (the amount on your home/dwelling). My home is a TOTAL LOSS. After my last ER visit when the PATCHED roof was removed and being replaced is when I was geting soooo sick, put on ANTIBIOTICS and PREDNISONE, I had never told the ER nor specialty physicians of the MOLD in my home. The last ER visit, I did tell of the MOLD and and so many visits to ER, etc. The ER physician told me, “with so many ANTBIOTICS you have been on, they would have killed anything…the mold is growing in your lungs (he didn’t use the big medical terminology), he told me “GO SEE YOUR PCP”. I did and she referred me to an INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN. As soon as I told him “some of what was going on”…he said, “You are ALLERGIC to your home. MOVE OUT”. He found out of my many grandchildren and 2 great grandsons under 2 yrs. When leaving his office he told me, “DON’T LET YOUR FAMILY IN YOUR HOME. DON’T LET YOUR GREAT GRANDSONS HAVE THE TOYS as from BIRTH to AGE 8 these children are forming their AUTOIMMUNE SYSTEM”. I have since read, some MOLDS can cause INFERTILITY. My other grandchildren are of child bearing years w/ one married already, all wanting families. I feel this info is IMPORTANT to your readers.
My insurance company will NOT allow me to have my “retirement home, I custom designed to enjoy w/ my extended family, friends, groups” Imploded and Rebuilt on the same foundation w/ my design put on blue prints. They just closed my claim, telling me of other claims they need to get to and how much money they have spent trying to “fix” my home. My regular claim rep. tried to EXPLOIT me by telling me, “Your home is back to PRE-loss condition”. It is NOT near as nice, in excellent condition w/ no MOLD existing PRIOR to the hail in OCT. ’15. I’ve lost the use of my home the last
4.5 yrs and only able to ENJOY and ENTERTAIN in it 11.5 yrs before the TOXIC MOLD MESS. My home will be DEVALUATED “if” there is ever a buyer. I don’t feel it is ETHICAL to even have my home put on the market w/ current toxic mold tested as the “final” inspection. Most all homeowners reading your website should have a “REPLACEMENT COST DWELLING Policy that will REPAIR or REPLACE LIKE NEW w/ LIKE, KIND and QUALITY MATERIALS. This has not been done by my NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUGE INSURANCE COMPANY. No wonder so many people “HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES”. I was an Agent of many companies, the GOOD GUY”. I was always NEVER PUSHY, HONEST and always ETHICAL!!!
Please go to The Environmental Health Center of Dallas. I did not read anything about detox in your comment. They are great at detoxing environmental toxins including mold. Peace and Blessing to you on your journey.
Yes, I love this place
Thank you for posting this article!
Hi how are you. I’ve been struggling for yrs with all kinds of symptoms and nuero symptoms and not 1 dr has tested me for anything disease or mycotoxins. The past few months I’ve been seeing an environmental dr and I’ve been tested for all kinds of things I never even knew existed. From those testing revealed I have 5 different mold mycotoxins, 2 different Candidas, Lyme, toxoplasmosis gondii and a compromised immune system from something in the past. But I’m getting treatment finally. I never new I had mycotoxins and was never tested for it. I have now. These are awful especially the mycotoxins. How long will it take to get rid of them. I’m taking welchol for the mycotoxins and on other meds for the other stuff.
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