Fungi: toxic killers or unavoidable nuisances?

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This discussion is focused on the many roles of fungi in human health, and also to put the mycotoxin literature into perspective. DATA SOURCES: Data are derived from the literature referenced in PubMed from the National Library of Medicine, earlier references in the authors' reprint collection, and ongoing research. Studies for review were either selected from the peer-reviewed literature or from standard texts that are well recognized in the field. RESULTS: The review yielded many studies of the role of fungi in allergic disease, but none that systematically documented such a role for mycotoxins or fungal volatiles. Many case studies were found, but none of these unequivocally document a cause/effect relationship between mycotoxin exposure by inhalation and human disease in residential, school, or office settings. CONCLUSIONS: The review led to the conclusion that that the primary result from fungal exposure is allergic disease, and that the evidence for inhalation disease resulting from mycotoxin exposure in residential and office settings is extremely weak.