A comparison of airborne ergosterol, glucan and Air-O-Cell data in relation to physical assessments of mold damage and some other parameters

M. Foto1, L. L. P. Vrijmoed2, J. D. Miller1, K. Ruest3, M. Lawton4, R. E. Dales5

Abstract We report here a comparison of long duration air samples in 110 homes where the material collected on open faced filter cassettes was analyzed for beta 1,3-d glucan, ergosterol, cholesterol and endotoxin. These data were then compared to careful estimates of visible mold and Air-O-Cell data. All the values found except cholersterol were of a similar magnitude to values reported in the limited number of studies available. Glucan was measured with a factor G based assay of the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate followed by size exclusion chromatography. This showed that the majority of airborne glucan found in these houses was fungal in origin arising from both yeasts and intact spores, as well as hyphal and spore fragments. Hyphal and spore fragments together represented 16% of the intact spore counts but over a broad range. Correlations between airborne glucan were strong for ergosterol and visible mold. However, airborne ergosterol was more highly correlated to visible mold than glucan. Endotoxin and Air-O-Cell measurements were poorly or not related to the other measures in the study. This study provides confidence that long duration air samples of the toxin glucan and ergosterol are related to building damage.

Practical Implications

Some studies of damp buildings have shown a relationship between extent of water/mold damage and symptoms. This study compared long duration air samples for glucan and ergosterol to extent of visible mold in houses measuring also the nature of the glucans present. Both measures were highly correlated to extent of visible mold damage in the houses; ergosterol was somewhat superior. Spore counts or prevalence of Asp/Pen in Air-O-Cell samples was not related to extent of visible mold damage but the observation of hyphal fragments was more likely when mold damage was present. This indicates that rigorous assessment of mold damage is a useful measure.

• fungi: assessment, sampling and analysis
• fungi: moisture damaged house -- indoor microbial concentrations
• fungi: spore, aerosol
• moisture source for building envelope

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