Maine company takes interest in toxic mold testing

A Portland, Maine, environmental testing company is striking a blow against toxins produced by so-called "toxic molds" with a simple lab test.

EnviroLogix Inc., which manufactures tests for detection of certain chemicals and compounds in a variety of environments, has developed the QuantiTox. Kit for Trichothecenes, a test that takes an hour to perform with minimal equipment and training.

The test detects several tfichothecene mycotoxins produced by Stachybotrys and other toxic molds that have been associated with illness in humans due to poor indoor air quality.

Most types of mold are not hazardous to healthy individuals. But some, like Stachybotrys, produce a mycotoxin - a poison produced by a fungus thought to be a cause of "sick building syndrome".

Some symptoms include respiratory problems, such as wheezing and difficulty in breathing; watery, burning eyes; blurry vision or sensitivity to light; dry, hacking cough; chronic fatigue; skin irritation; central nervous system problems, including headaches, memory problems, and mood changes; aches and pains; fever; diarrhea; and immune suppression.

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