It’s not the mold you should be most worried about…it’s the toxins they produce. These are called Mycotoxins. If you have toxic mold in your home, you are breathing Mycotoxins in every day. Mycotoxins are known to be hazardous; some are even proven to cause cancer in humans. Are you comfortable having your family in this environment? Don’t you want to know what they are breathing in?

The EMMA test uses sensitive molecular detection technology to look for the presence of 10 of the most toxigenic molds. It determines their presence and determines their relative abundance. EMMA also tests directly for 15 of the most poisonous Mycotoxins using its patented Mycotoxin detection test. Testing is simple, only requiring small amounts of dust or material from AC or heater filters. Instructions are provided with the pre-paid return kit that is sent to you upon order. Results will be sent to you within 10 business days from receipt of your sample.

Mycotoxins:World Health Organization (WHO) in its publication: Mycotoxins: Children’s Health and the Environment defines mycotoxins as “Natural products produced by fungi that evoke a toxic response when introduced in low concentrations to higher vertebrates by a natural route.” Note: There is no definition of what “low concentration” means. Also, humans are “higher vertebrates” and inhalation is a “natural route” http://www.who.int/ceh/capacity/mycotoxins.pdf

Aflatoxins: NIH, National Cancer Institute web site: “Which cancers are associated with exposure to aflatoxins? Exposure to aflatoxins is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer.” https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/aflatoxins

 

Ochratoxins:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 14th Report on Carcinogens (RoC) lists Aflatoxin as “Known to be a Human Carcinogen” and Ochratoxin A as “Reasonably anticipated to be Human Carcinogen”. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/listed_substances_508.pdf

 

Gliotoxin:Gliotoxin is an immunosuppressive mycotoxin long suspected to be a potential virulence factor of Aspergillus fumigatus.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2043361/

 

Trichothecenes: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Case Definition: Trichothecene Mycotoxin states: “The trichothecene mycotoxins are a group of toxins produced by multiple genera of fungi.” They later state: “Systemic symptoms can develop with all routes of exposure (especially inhalation) and might include weakness, ataxia, hypotension, coagulopathy and death.” https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/trichothecene/casedef.asp

 

Mycophenolic Acid: Mycophenolic Acid: Use during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of pregnancy loss and congenital malformations. Females of reproductive potential must be counseled regarding pregnancy prevention and planning. Increased risk of development of lymphoma and other malignancies, particularly of the skin, due to immunosuppression. Increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections, including opportunistic infections.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0045948/#DDIC603035.side_effects_section

 

Sterigmatocystin:Sterigmatocystin is carcinogenic in mice (pulmonary adenocarcinomas) and rats (hepatocellular carcinomas at milligram doses of sterigmatocystin per animal per day for 1 year) following oral administration  and is classified as an International Agency for Research on Cancer class 2B carcinogen (i.e., as possibly carcinogenic to humans) http://aem.asm.org/content/68/8/3886.full

 

Chaetoglobosins:Chaetomium globosum, the most common species within this genus, produces chaetoglobosins A and C when cultured on building material. Relatively low levels of these compounds have been shown to be lethal to various tissue culture cell lines. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17551849