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Microbes and moisture content of materials from damaged building

Meklin T. , Haatainen S., Kauriinvaha E., Kettunen3 A-V., Haverinen U., Vahteristo M., , Viljanen M., and Nevalainen, A.
2001
In "Bioaerosols, Fungi and Mycotoxins: Health Effects, Assessment, Prevention and Control", Edited by Johanning, E., Boyd Printing, Albany, New York
building materials, microbes, moisture


Meklin T. , Haatainen S., Kauriinvaha E., Kettunen3 A-V., Haverinen U., Vahteristo M., , Viljanen M., and Nevalainen, A., (2001), "Microbes and moisture content of materials from damaged building", In "Bioaerosols, Fungi and Mycotoxins: Health Effects, Assessment, Prevention and Control", Edited by Johanning, E., Boyd Printing, Albany, New York.
Abstract

The aim of the study was to characterize the microbial flora of the envelope of a school building and the correlation of the microbial concentrations and the moisture content of materials was estimated. Material samples (n=95) were taken from different structures before the dismantling of the school. In all, 40 sample pairs were taken from which both concentrations of microbes and moisture contents (% by weight) were determined. The range of the total concentration of fungi was <45 - 8 600 000 cfu/g for all the analyzed material samples. The growth of microbes in a building is mostly regulated by the moisture of the materials and often the elevated concentrations of mesophilic fungi (>10 000 cfu/g) were associated with elevated moisture content of the material. However, the microbial concentrations did not fully correlate with the moisture contents of the material.


Related Resources:
  • This link has not been checked.Bioaerosols, Fungi and Mycotoxins, Ed. by Johanning, E.
    "papers presented at the September, 1998 Third International Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York. clinical and epidemiological studies and technical reports on an emerging public health topic affecting people in indoor environments at work and at home."


Related Concepts


Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Nevalainen, A.
Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland, and Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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  13. Indoor air microbes and respiratory symptoms of children in moisture damaged and reference schools
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  21. Skin-prick test findings in students from moisture- and mould-damaged schools: A 3-year follow-up study
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