ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews health hazardous substances produced by bacteria and fungi, methods for detection and gives recommendations for protection. It discusses toxin producing strains of Streptomyces griseus, Streptomyces coelicolor, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei, Nocardiopsis exhalans, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus pumilus from moisture damaged indoor environments in Finland. The protein toxins are consumed by proteolytic microbes once exposed to environment, therefore do not persist and are unlikely to represent a hazard for the persons handling historic items. Cell wall components of bacteria and fungi may persist in the environment and form constituent of organic dusts. The toxins produced by the isolates from indoor environment were detectable by the boar spermatozoan motility inhibition assay. The toxins of Streptomyces griseus, Bacillus cereus and B. amyloliquefaciens were purified from strains isolated from the microbially damaged items and environments. The toxin producing strains of S. griseus and B. cereus were also antagonistic towards bacteria.
