Swedish scientists have developed a more sensitive and selective method for detecting the toxins produced by a fungus common in damp buildings.

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Although damp in buildings is known to cause bad health, the direct cause of the illnesses is unclear. Toxins produced by fungi growing in these conditions are a likely culprit.

Building on a previously developed method, Lennart Larsson and his team from Lund University used sensitive mass spectrometry to specifically detect the hydrolysis products of the toxins produced by Stachybotrys chartarum They were able to detect these mycotoxins at amounts of only 0.1 picograms - less than one millionth of a microgram.

More importantly, they are the first group to apply the method to dust samples from water-damaged houses. They were able to show that the dust in and around such buildings contains high levels of these toxins. 'It shows that mycotoxins from water damage, visualized as a mouldy surface of a wall, may become airborne and thus inhalable,' said Larsson, which suggests that these toxins could be the cause of the illnesses.

Larsson hopes that the team's research may help point to the specific cause of building related illnesses, which will be crucial to their prevention.

Edward Morgan