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_OttO_
Over Stimulated



Registered: 06/01/05
Posts: 2,594
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Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous?
#6769177 - 04/10/07 09:24 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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I am asking this out of curiosity at the possible health dangers of inhaling a small amount of dry, powdered cubensis - or any fungal fruit bodies for that matter.
The reason for my question is I've noticed if you try to powder mushrooms in a coffee grinder, you get a fine smoke-like 'dust' float out when you take the lid off after grinding. When I first did this I felt a slight irritation in the lungs, and an almost clogged up, 'claggy' sensation in the back of my throat.
My partner insisted I use a particle filter mask if I ever do it again, at the rather off putting idea of inhaling a finely powdered fungus. The other day she was in the kitchen preparing a meal at the same time I fired up the coffee grinder, and she became distinctly irritated shortly after - getting quite wheezy in the chest, coughing and hayfever like symptoms (itchy nose and congestion) for almost an hour.
Anyone have any ideas on the health risks associated with this?
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Hotnuts
old hand


Registered: 02/26/05
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: _OttO_]
#6770367 - 04/10/07 01:58 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Allergies. Some folks are highly allergic to fungal spores of all varieties. When you're grinding up those mushrooms, you're sending dry spores that are attached on the mushrooms airborne. This is a common problem in mushroom farm cropping also.
Edited by Hotnuts (04/10/07 01:58 PM)
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_OttO_
Over Stimulated



Registered: 06/01/05
Posts: 2,594
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: Hotnuts]
#6772247 - 04/10/07 08:29 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Thanks hotnutz - so you dont think that the powdered fungal material would cause any long lasting respiratory problems (other than an allergic reaction of course..)?
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CureCat
Strangest


Registered: 04/19/06
Posts: 14,058
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: _OttO_]
#6772532 - 04/10/07 09:17 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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There are, as hotnuts was saying, cases of asthma and other respiratory symptoms caused by Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms. However, these people work day after day with large amounts of these mushrooms.
There have also been 16 or so incidences of disease caused by Schizophyllum commune, though usually in patients with compromised immune systems, such as AIDS. Some of the infections caused by this mushroom as abscess of the brain, fungal sinusitis, respiratory mycoses, and a "fungus ball in the lung".
Some kids also snorted some puffball spores in attempt to get high, and that resulted in serious respiratory complications.
Anyway, allergies are possible, though i seriously doubt that occasional exposure to Psilocybe spores or dust would be able to cause any long lasting symptoms. I am very sensitive to fine dusts and powders as well, and have had this exact same problem- though after a couple hours I usually stop coughing and forget about it. I try to wait about 30 seconds after grinding before i open the lid, and tap the top with a utensil, to settle the dust.
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mattymonkey
Feel Like aStranger...



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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: _OttO_]
#6772539 - 04/10/07 09:18 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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breathing any dust will harm your lungs. its not the mushrooms, any dust will do it.
-------------------- "listening for the secret.. searching for the sound.."
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure


Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: mattymonkey]
#6772598 - 04/10/07 09:28 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Yea, dust is bad, but fungi spores are worse. I had to stop growing Hypsizygus ulmarius, the elm oyster due to horrible allergic reactions to the spores. I only grew them perhaps three or four crops before I couldn't even walk into the house without my lungs seizing up to the point I couldn't breathe, and I don't normally have allergies to anything. I couldn't even harvest them. I had to go to a hotel for a few days and sent mrs rabbit to clear out every single elm oyster substrate from my grow area and get rid of them. I had her start my laminar flow hood, and she left it running for three days before I could enter the house, then we had to shampoo/steam clean the carpets and everything. So far, that's the only species that has done that to me, fortunately. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms
semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat
"I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison
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CureCat
Strangest


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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: mattymonkey]
#6772604 - 04/10/07 09:29 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Yes, I agree, that has certainly been my experience. I am very sensitive to dirt dust, house dust, baby powder, flour, etc.
The difference, however, is the potential for the spores of the mushroom to germinate and colonize your tissues. Though, I hardly think human tissue is suitable for Psilocybe species, or many mushrooms at all.
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CureCat
Strangest


Registered: 04/19/06
Posts: 14,058
Loc: clawing your furniture
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: CureCat]
#6772622 - 04/10/07 09:32 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Wow Roger! I bet that was unexpected. Are you allergic to the cooked fruits?
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RoosterCogburn
Fearless,one-eyed U.S.Marshall



Registered: 08/25/06
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: CureCat]
#6772639 - 04/10/07 09:35 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
I hardly think human tissue is suitable for Psilocybe species
That's a relief... I can see the Tek now.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure


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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: RoosterCogburn]
#6772677 - 04/10/07 09:43 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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No, just the spores. The fruits were good to eat. I sleep in my grow room, (or grow in my bedroom) so was exposed to a sporedrop one whole night when I was too tired to harvest, and put it off til the next morning. That's what did it. Those things put out a massive spore drop, unlike anything else.
This is what that same flush did to my mini-greenhouse AC unit, and this is only what made it through the super allergen furnace filter that was in the return air line. I had to throw away the entire ducting system and build it again from scratch. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms
semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat
"I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison
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CureCat
Strangest


Registered: 04/19/06
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#6772874 - 04/10/07 10:19 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Holy Shit!!!!
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cpw1971
Mr

Registered: 10/07/06
Posts: 5,615
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: CureCat]
#6772949 - 04/10/07 10:35 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hehe RR, you sleep in your growroom lol now thats dedication
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_OttO_
Over Stimulated



Registered: 06/01/05
Posts: 2,594
Loc: Up Over
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Re: Inhaling dry, powdered mushrooms - is this hazardous? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#6773360 - 04/10/07 11:58 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: No, just the spores. The fruits were good to eat. I sleep in my grow room, (or grow in my bedroom) so was exposed to a sporedrop one whole night when I was too tired to harvest, and put it off til the next morning. That's what did it. Those things put out a massive spore drop, unlike anything else.
This is what that same flush did to my mini-greenhouse AC unit, and this is only what made it through the super allergen furnace filter that was in the return air line. I had to throw away the entire ducting system and build it again from scratch. RR
Far out, this is a messy hobby at times.... The things we do... 
Thanks for the input guys, that puts my mind at ease - I was quite concerned for Mrs Otto... So treat fungal powder as you would any other dust.
The problem I had in my mind with fungal powder was that it absorbs so much moisture - simply touching it with un-gloved hands tends to makes it go all sticky and gross, so I could only imagine what it would be doing in the inside of my throat/lungs...
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