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  • fungi and molds in buildings and their envelopes
  • IAQ - indoor air quality
  • fungi: MVOC - microbial volatile organic compound



    • Related References
    		Essay:

    Fungi Spore in the air

    FUNGI

    Approximately 200 surveys made in various parts of the world of outdoor airborne spores indicated that Cladosporium, Alternaria, Penicillium, and Aspergillus were the genera of fungi which accounted for the highest mean percentages. Approximately 85% of patients found to be allergic to molds will react to one or more of these same genera in circulating air (Binnie, 1989). Alternaria sp., Cladosporium sp., and Penicillium sp., are three fungi which have been associated with causing asthma and rhinitis. Penicillium species with spores of 2 to 3 microns m) have apparently been responsible for several hypersensitivity pneumonitis epidemics (Kreiss and Hodgson, 1984).

    The ˇ°moldyˇ± or ˇ°mildewˇ± odors in some indoor environments are associated with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air produced by fungi (Kaminski et al., 1974; Canadian Department of Health & Welfare, 1987). Health effects have not been directly attributable to these VOCs to date, but the VOCs and/or the organisms which produce them may be contributory factors to complaints of headache, eye and throat irritation, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue in subjects occupying contaminated interiors (Burge, 1990a).

    Binnie, P.W.H. 1987. Airborne Microbial Flora in Florida Homes. Proc. 4 th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Berlin, West Germany.

    Kreiss, K. and Hodgson, M.J. 1984. Building-associated Epidemics. In: Walsh, P.J., Dudney, C.S., and Copenhaver, E.D., eds. Indoor AirQuality. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press.

    Kaminske, E., Stawicki, S., and Wasowicz, E. 1974. Volatile Flavor Compounds Produced by Molds of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fungi Imperfecti. Appl. Microbiol., 27(6): 1001.

    Canadian Dept. of Health & Welfare, Working Group on Fungi and Indoor Air. 1987. Significance of Fungi in Indoor Air. Can. J. Public Health, 78:S1-13.

    Burge, H.A. 1990a. Bioaerosols: Prevalence and Health Effects in the Indoor Environment. J. Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Vol. 86(5): 687-701.


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