Fungal spores: Hazardous to health?

Fungi have long been known to affect human well being in various ways, incl uding disease of essential crop plants, decay of stored foods with possible concomitant production of mycotoxins, superficial and systemic infection o f human tissues, and disease associated with immune stimulation such as hyp ersensitivity pneumonitis and toxic pneumonitis. The spores of a large numb er of important fungi are less than 5 mu m aerodynamic diameter, and theref ore are able to enter the lungs. They also may contain significant amounts of mycotoxins. Diseases associated with inhalation of fungal spores include toxic pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, tremors, chronic fatigue syndrome, kidney failure, and cancer. Key words: mold, fungi, mycotoxin, lu ng disease, toxic pneumonitis.