stachybotrys

Stachybotrys Chartarum (SC) was first described as Stachybotrys Atra in 1837 from wallpaper that was collected in a home in Prague.
It is a member of the Deuteromycetes, order Moniliales, family Dematiaceae, and is common on plants and soil.

Mycotoxins and other biologically active compounds produced by SC are the reason that this fungus is of particular concern to human health.

In the Ukraine in the 1930s there were unusual outbreaks of an unknown disease in horses. In 1938 russian scientists determined that the disease was associated with SC growing on the straw that was fed to the animals.

Then, studies were conducted by actually feeding the horses the fungus. The results were sickness and death. The horses seemed to be especially susceptible to the toxins from the SC; 1mg of toxin caused death.

The term Stachybotryotoxicosis was name for this disease. There have been many reports of this disease in europe but none reported in the USA.

Also, in the 1940's the same disease was reported in humans in Russia, those that handled the infested hay reported the following symptoms:-

Dermatitis
Pain and inflammation of the mucous membranes
Burning sensation of the nasal passages
Cough
Bloody Rhinitis
Fever
Headache
Fatigue

Some of the scientists actually rubbed the fungus onto their skins, they experienced the same symptoms as those under the naturally occuring cases.
The clinical picture has been reported as being similar to radiation poisoning.

In 1986 Croft et al, reported an outbreak of Trichothecene toxicosis, one of the toxins produced by SC, testing of these homes revealed spores of SC and extracts taken from the building were found to be toxic to test animals.

In 1993 a cluster of cases of pulmonary hemmorrhage and hemosiderosis in infants occcured in Cleveland, Ohio. An intensive study was initiated and several factors observed.

All of the homes had high levels of fungi and SC
Isolates of the SC produced tricothecenes

If you know that you have SC, do not attempt to clean it without following the safety procedures for toxic molds. Disinfecting the surface may kill the fungus but MYCELIUM in the substrate will often survive and grow again.

The presence of Stachybotrys species such as Atra and Chartarum have created concern due to the disease that has been associated with extensive exposure to these molds and the toxins that they and other molds produce, these are known as mycotoxins. The most commonly known producer of mycotoxins is the Aspergillus species.
The reported health effects of mycotoxicosis include:-

Immunosuppression
Dermatotoxicity
Myelosuppression
Estrogenicity
Hepatotoxicity
Mutagenicity
Nephrotoxicity
Teratogenicity
Neurotoxicity
Carcinogenicity