MVOC emission patterns of indoor fungi: strain and culture differences
Horner, W., A. Worthan, B. Epstien, and M. Black
1999
American Industrial Hygiene Conference, AIHCE 1999, Poster Session 303, Papers 411
Horner, W., A. Worthan, B. Epstien, and M. Black, (1999), "MVOC emission patterns of indoor fungi: strain and culture differences", American Industrial Hygiene Conference, AIHCE 1999, Poster Session 303, Papers 411.
| Abstract: |
| Fungal growth in buildings deteriorates materials and can harm the health of occupants by producing allergens, toxins, or microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). Traditional bioaerosol sampling methods sometimes fail to detect such growth. MVOC sampling is an additional method for detecting indoor mold growth; our goal was to determine the limits of this application. We characterized MVOC variation due to strain and culture conditions of six fungi typical in problem buildings. Each species was cultured and loaded into stainless steel chambers supplied with purified, HEPA-filtered air (25¡ãC and 550% relative humidity) at 0.5 air changes per hour. Air samples were taken at 2, 5, 10, and 20 days postinoculation and analyzed for specific MVOCs. Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus versicolor produced more MVOCs early (day 20), whereas the other four species produced more MVOCs at day 10. Penicillium chrysogenum produced the highest total concentration (34 ¦Ìg/m3); the greatest number of individual MVOCs (six compounds) was produced by Aspergillus niger. Emissions were also compared from three fresh (indoor) isolates of each species. A. alternata isolates emitted 1, 2, or 5 MVOCs; total emissions of the lowest emitting isolate was only 27% as much as the highest emitting isolate. Three compounds were detected from all C. cladosporioides isolates; low:high was 4%. All A. niger isolates emitted 4 MVOCs; low:high was 76%. One A. versicolor strain emitted 6 MVOCs, and the other two emitted 3; low:high was 51%. Two P. chrysogenum strains emitted 6 MVOCs, and the other released 5; low:high 43%. P. brevicompactum strains produced either 5 (2) or 6 (1) MVOCs; the low:high was 37%. There is significant quantitative variation among isolates of these species and, in four to six species, there were also qualitative differences. MVOC emission patterns appear to be complex and determined by several factors. |
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