Molds And Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are toxins produced by aerobic, microscopic fungus under special conditions of moisture and temperature. They colonize in a variety of foods from harvest to the grocer. Mycotoxins have gained world wide interest in recent years with the revelation of the effect of these toxins on health. A current example is the presence of ochratoxin A, a human carcinogen and nephrotoxin, in wines. The increased concern about fruit safety has led to increased studies throughout the world and enhanced awareness for stringent regulations governing mycotoxin limits in food. Presented in three defined sections, this is the first book to provide comprehensive analysis of the main mycotoxins contaminating fruits and vegetables and their derived products. The first section provides a safety evaluation of mycotoxins in fruits and vegetables, details regarding factors affecting mycotoxin production and diffusion in the fruit tissue, and recent methods for detection of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins produced by the fungi. The second part takes a critical look at the main individual mycotoxins and the third section focuses on approaches for prevention and control. * The first book dedicated to mycotoxins in fruits and vegetables * Presents mycological, mycotoxicological and phytopathological aspects of fruits and vegetables * Includes an analysis of detection, prevention and control methods for mycotoxigenic fungi and the mycotoxins they produce * Provides a complete risk assessment and safety evaluation of mycotoxins in perishable produce

Are mold and mycotoxins secretly making you ill? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people now spend a staggering 93% of their time indoors! The need for clean, safe, indoor air quality has never been more important. Here's what this book will show you... * How to test your home for toxic mold ✓ * How to prevent mold from growing ✓ * How to treat mold safely ✓ As many as one in four Americans could have a genetic predisposition to the toxic effects of mold. To add to the problem, we share our living spaces with microscopic mold spores. Most are relatively harmless but some molds have the potential to cause serious health problems. For dangerous molds to reach high levels they need only a lick of excess moisture. A leaking pipe can facilitate this process in as little as 24/48 hours. Fortunately, the Toxic Mold Book can help you stop mold in its tracks.

Almost all homes, apartments, and commercial buildings will experience leaks, flooding, or other forms of excessive indoor dampness at some point. Not only is excessive dampness a health problem by itself, it also contributes to several other potentially problematic types of situations. Molds and other microbial agents favor damp indoor environments, and excess moisture may initiate the release of chemical emissions from damaged building materials and furnishings. This new book from the Institute of Medicine examines the health impact of exposures resulting from damp indoor environments and offers recommendations for public health interventions. Damp Indoor Spaces and Health covers a broad range of topics. The book not only examines the relationship between damp or moldy indoor environments and adverse health outcomes but also discusses how and where buildings get wet, how dampness influences microbial growth and chemical emissions, ways to prevent and remediate dampness, and elements of a public health response to the issues. A comprehensive literature review finds sufficient evidence of an association between damp indoor environments and some upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, wheezing, and asthma symptoms in sensitized persons. This important book will be of interest to a wide-ranging audience of science, health, engineering, and building professionals, government officials, and members of the public.

Mycotoxins, from the Greek "mukes" referring to fungi or slime molds and toxin from the Latin "toxicum" referencing a poison for arrows, have earned their reputation for being potentially deleterious to the health and well being of a consuming organism, whether it be animal or human. Unfortunately, mycotoxins are a ubiquitous factor in the natural life cycle of food producing plants. As such, control of the potential impact of mycotoxins on food safety relies heavily upon accurate analysis and surveys followed by commodity segregation and restricted use or decontamination through processing. The purpose of this book is to provide the most comprehensive and current information on the topic of mycotoxins and assuring food safety. Chapters represented in the book reflect such diverse topics ranging from occurrence and impact, analysis, reduction through processing and plant breeding, toxicology and safety assessments to regulatory perspectives. Authors represent a range of international perspectives.

Molds, Mushrooms, and Mycotoxins was first published in 1975. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. As Professor Christensen has made evident in his earlier books, including The Molds and Man,fungi are significantly interesting in their life-styles and in the many ways in which they affect man. Here he continues his exploration of the lives of the fungi and their relation to man, focusing on the harmful or dangerous effects which certain molds, mushrooms, and other fungi can have on human beings. The first several chapters deal with fungi that are toxic in one way or another: either the fungi themselves are toxic when consumed, as with poisonous mushrooms and ergot, or the fungi secrete toxic compounds that diffuse into the substance on which they grow, making that substance toxic when eaten. He discusses hallucinogenic as well as poisonous mushrooms and provides extensive information about mycotoxins in human and animal foods, which are recently discovered health hazards. Other chapters deal with fungus spores, which are a major cause of respiratory allergies, and with fungi which are predators or parasites of insects and nematodes. A chapter is devoted to fungus infections of man and animals, which at times constitute a serious public health problem. Another chapter discusses the nature, cause, and prevention of wood decay in trees and buildings. In a final chapter the author discusses some aspects of organic evolution in general as a background for presenting theories and facts on the evolution of fungi. He summarizes some of the ways in which fungi enter into our lives and economy, and looks to the role of fungi in the future. The illustrations, in both black and white and color, show some of the fungi and processes that are discussed.

In his new book, Energetic Diagnosis, Dr. Neil Nathan, renowned physician and bestselling author of TOXIC, delivers his groundbreaking thesis on diagnosing disease and chronic illness using the patient’s personal energy fields as the launchpad for treatment. An individual’s energy is often overlooked when treating difficult-to-identify disease. Dr. Nathan puts forth the premise that patient evaluation should be highly personal, beginning with a thorough analysis of events leading up to sickness, including lingering mental trauma. To do this, he urges medical professionals to use a process called Energetic Intuition—the ability to utilize pattern recognition presented by our own subconscious. In this book, Dr. Nathan details how he taps into his own intuition and learns to trust both himself and what the patient’s physical and mental state tell him. Dr. Nathan’s personal experience and years using this methodology have helped hundreds of patients understand their ailments and a find balance that helps them achieve optimal health. Energetic Diagnosis also features a robust detailing of how human energy is measured and perceived in a clinical setting using specific medical devices, interference fields, and various autonomic response testing. Dr. Nathan invites guest doctors to detail the kinds of energy-focused treatments they use in their practices, such as A.R.T. (autonomic response testing), kinesiology, and FSM (frequency specific microcurrents). Dr. Nathan concludes the book with important energetic considerations to open and build our awareness for a total mind, body, soul experience. He reveals the importance of dreams, native healing, and communication with the natural world.