ISHM Educates Workers about Exposure to Microbial Toxins

Most workers recognize that exposure to elevated levels of mold in the workplace can lead to human health concerns.  Mold is a known allergen, asthma trigger and can even cause fungal infections in susceptible individuals.
 
Far fewer workers known that many types of mold can also produce microbial toxins known as mycotoxins.  A mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by some types of fungi, also commonly referred to as mold.  Some molds can produce several mycotoxins, and other molds produce mycotoxins only under certain environmental conditions.   Mycotoxins may cling to the surface of mold spores and others may be found within the spores.
 
More than 200 mycotoxins have been identified from common molds, and many more are probably yet to be discovered.  Workers can be exposed to mycotoxin producing molds in many ways.  These include ingesting contaminated food products, the inhalation of organic dusts and bioaerosols, and by touching contaminated surfaces and materials.  This can occur when workers are employed in environments that have excessive mold growth, in professions that deal with remediating microbial contaminated structures, in industries that utilize mold to produce products, and in many agricultural environments.
 
“Some mycotoxins are well known to affect humans and have been shown to be responsible for human health effects, but more research is needed,” reported Larry Curtis, CSHM, Executive Director of the ISHM.  “Exposure to mycotoxins has been shown to cause mucous membrane irritation, skin rash, nausea, immune system suppression, acute or chronic liver damage, acute or chronic central nervous system damage, endocrine effects, and even cancer. To help educate workers the ISHM has sponsored an online video about mycotoxins.  We hope this new video helps to raise awareness of worker exposure to high levels of mold and mycotoxins,” he continued.
 
The new video about mycotoxins can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/wnN5WCvNYDg 
 
The Institute for Safety and Health Management works diligently to promote the advancement of safety and health management for workers across the globe.  They achieve this goal by educating workers and human resources professionals and by offering the prestigious Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) certification and the Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) designation.
 
To learn more about the Institute for Safety and Health Management, please visit http://www.ISHM.org, email info@ISHM.org or call (877) 201-4053.
 
About the Institute for Safety and Health Management
The Institute for Safety and Health Management is the premier credentialing organization founded to promote the establishment of standards and recognition of safety and risk management professionals.  Through the ISHM’s certification programs, Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) and Associate Safety Health Manager (ASHM), it promotes the advancement of safety management through the application of management principles and the integration of safety into all levels and activities of management.

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