According to a recent report in the German news magazine Der Spiegel , he analyzed 40 mummies and identified several mold spores on each one. Dirt samples from tombs also yielded spores. When spores enter the body, through the nose, mouth or eye mucous membranes, they can lead to organ failure and even death, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems. Food offerings left in the tombs before they were sealed created ideal mold growing conditions. Dr. Hans Merk, a dermatologist at the University of Aachen, Germany, performed similar research and agrees with Kramer's conclusions.
Mold spores are everywhere, and most are harmless.
Some are even beneficial, such as those used to create Roquefort cheese and penicillin. They're protected by a tough, waterproof wall made of chitin, which allows mold to survive for thousands of years, even in unfavorable conditions. Prolonged exposure to toxic molds in a closed area, such as a mummy burial chamber, can cause serious problems. They can irritate, infect and ultimately damage the eyes, skin, lungs, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, stomach and intestines. Experts think it unlikely.