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Volatile compounds originating from mixed microbial cultures on building materials under various humidity conditions

Korpi, A. Pasanen,A.L. and P. Pasanen
1998
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64(8): 2914-2919


Korpi, A. Pasanen,A.L. and P. Pasanen, (1998), "Volatile compounds originating from mixed microbial cultures on building materials under various humidity conditions", Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64(8): 2914-2919.
Abstract:
We examined growth of mixed microbial cultures (13 fungal species and one actinomycete species) and production of volatile compounds (VOCs) in typical building materials in outside walls, separating walls, and bathroom floors at various relative humidities (RHs) of air. Air samples from incubation chambers were adsorbed on Tenax TA and dinitrophenylhydrazine cartridges and were analyzed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Metabolic activity was measured by determining CO2 production, and microbial concentrations were determined by a dilution plate method. At 80 to 82% RH, CO2 production did not indicate that microbial activity occurred, and only 10% of the spores germinated, while slight increases in the concentrations of some VOCs were detected. All of the parameters showed that microbial activity occurred at 90 to 99% RH. The microbiological analyses revealed weak microbial growth even under drying conditions (32 to 33% RH). The main VOCs produced on the building materials studied were 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, and 1-octen-3-ol. In some cases fungal growth decreased aldehyde emissions. We found that various VOCs accompany microbial activity but that no single VOC is a reliable indicator of biocontamination in building materials.

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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Korpi, A. P.
Anne Korp Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
  1. Can microbial volatile metabolites cause irritation at indoor air concentrations?
  2. Fungal volatile metabolites and biological responses to fungal exposure
  3. Sensory irritating potency of some microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) and a mixture of five MVOCs
  4. Sensory irritation of microbially produced volatile organic compounds in mice during repeated exposures
  5. Volatile metabolites of Serpula lacrymans, Coniophora puteana, Poria placenta, Stachybotrys chartarum and Chaetomium globosum  
Pasanen, P.
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
  1. Can microbial volatile metabolites cause irritation at indoor air concentrations?
  2. Effect of duct-cleaning detergents and disinfection substances on mould growth
  3. Ergosterol content in various fungal species and biocontaminated building materials
  4. Fungal growth on wood surfaces at different moisture conditions in crawl spaces
  5. Fungal spore transport through a building structure
  6. Growth and volatile metabolite production of Aspergillus versicolor in house dust
  7. Microbial contamination of indoor air due to leakages from crawl space- a field study
  8. Significance of air humidity and air velocity for fungal spore release into the air
  9. Transport of fungal spores from crawl space to indoors
  10. Volatile organic metabolites associated with some toxic fungi end their mycotoxins  



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