Toxicology of 1 - 3-Beta-Glucans : Glucans as a Marker for Fungal Exposure

The investigation of indoor air quality has shown that microbial contamination is often a problem in buildings. Recent evidence indicates that fungi are often a part of the picture. A component of the fungal cell wall, 1®3-ß-glucans not only affect human health, they are a marker for the existence of fungi in environmental samples. Toxicology of 1®3-ß-Glucans covers the basic chemistry and immunobiology of these substances. The authors begin by introducing current methods for detecting 1®3-ß-glucans in environmental samples and reviewing risk evaluation in the environment. They go on to discuss numerous topics including likely occupational and environmental exposure, studies suggesting a strong link between environmental glucan concentrations and pulmonary inflammation, and signal transduction pathways and specific receptors. No other book currently available brings together the expertise of leading international researchers to provide a straightforward monograph on the toxicology of 1®3-ß-glucans. It pulls together current knowledge of these compounds, their effects, measurement, monitoring, and risk assessment.