A midrise university residence hall was constructed in 1991-1992 and occupied in August 1992. The building is clad with a stucco veneer applied to an asphaltic paper-backed lath over steel studs. During the winter rainy "el nino" season in 1997-1998 chronic leakage of exterior walls and windows occurred most frequently in several vertical groupings of rooms. These chronically wet rooms were then closed for occupancy. Visible mold growth on interior room surfaces was subsequently remediated (physically removed).

Biodegradable construction materials in envelope walls were then found by destructive inspection to be colonized by fungi such as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, and Chaetomium species. During the last three years of occupancy prior to vacating the building in late May 2001, approximately (Note: this needs to be moved to previous line) 2,000 indoor air samples for fungi were collected including samples in rooms recognized earlier as having chronic leakage problems. The objective of our study was to determine if the indoor air was most heavily degraded in rooms with chronic leakage problems. In general, airborne nonphylloplane fungi (especially Penicillium species) were more abundant (often the dominant taxon) indoors throughout the residence hall than in the outdoor air. Although there was great variability over time, rooms with chronic wall leakage were characterized with a more degraded air quality (e.g.., higher Penicillium species levels) than relatively drier rooms.

• fungi: assessment, sampling and analysis
• fungi: molds in buildings
• fungi: spore, aerosol

1. Air- and dustborne mycoflora in houses free of water damage and fungal growth
2. Building-associated pulmonary disease from exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor
3. Construction defects and microbial growth
4. El Ni?o water leaks identify rooms with concealed mould growth and degraded indoor air quality
5. Hidden mold sometimes enters the indoor air
6. Microbial VOCs as indicators for mold growth in buildings
7. Mitigation of visible fungal contamination in buildings: experience from 1993 - 1998
8. Practical aspects of sampling for organic dusts and microorganisms
9. Use of fungal detectors to monitor drying of water damaged buildings  

1. El Ni?o water leaks identify rooms with concealed mould growth and degraded indoor air quality