[GSBN] Mycotoxins

[Derek Roff]

I don't know where the architect might have gotten his ideas, but they 
seem in line with two fairly widespread problems in the modern world: 
fear of nature and anti-holistic thinking.  It is sad that so many 
people feel that the natural world is dangerous- the world in which 
humans evolved, and in which almost all species in the world still 
thrive.   Meanwhile, new synthetic materials, which have undergone 
little or no long-term testing, are considered safe.

This view persists, in spite of two safety-critical observations:  1) 
Large numbers of approved products are subsequently found to be 
dangerous.  2)   Children who are over-protected from exposure to 
natural world, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, end up less safe 
and less healthy than children who have more normal contact with the 
natural world.  Martin mentioned the importance of developing the 
immune system.

The best research method is a very large-scale study conducted over a 
long time period.  We have hundreds of generations of evidence that 
humans thrive through interaction with natural materials, and we have 
good information on those relatively few interactions that are 
dangerous to us.  The worst "research" is that based on an anecdote or 
two.  Yet anecdotes are very convincing to people, for various reasons. 


Looking at the last five hundred years, for which written records a 
fairly common, I think it is clear that farmers and foresters are 
generally much healthier than city dwellers (although they suffer from 
many physical accidents, such as having a horse or tree fall on them).

These observations are unlikely to convince this architect, who doesn't 
seem to be in touch with either nature nor research.  But it might be 
of some use to the young couple, who might be better served by choosing 
a different architect.  If the couple is building on a family farm, 
they are probably much more comfortable with and knowledgeable about 
the living world than their current architect.

Derelict

Derek Roff
Language Learning Center
Ortega Hall 129, MSC03-2100
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
505/277-7368, fax 505/277-3885
Internet: derek at unm.edu



--On Thursday, March 24, 2011 7:56 AM -0400 carolatkn at aol.com wrote:

I recently met a young couple wanting to build a new home on their 
family farm in south west England. They had been told by their 
architect that they should discount straw bale immediately as they 
would be certain to die from exposure to mycotoxins!

I'm going to try to speak to this architect to find out why he is of 
this opinion but thought I ought to do some research first. Most of the 
mycotoxin information that I can find on the internet is to do with 
food and health problems araising when ingesting wheat contaminated 
with mycotoxins. One website www.knowmycotoxins.com states that 80% of 
straw contains mycotoxins but again, seems concerned by this straw 
being eaten by farm animals and the subsequent decline in productivity.

I can't imagine this architect thinks the couple would eat their straw 
walls, so he he must be concerned about the inhalation of toxins 
causing respiratory illness/death. My initial response is that if the 
straw is baled and kept dry there will be few moulds anyway and crack 
free plaster would prevent any that were present making their way into 
the living space.

Does anyone know where this architect may have come across this 
mycotoxin claim? Does anyone know of any research into the indoor air 
quality in straw bale buildings - old and new - if you think this is 
what he is referring to?

best wishes
Carol Atkinson
www.strawcottage.co.uk