Conceptual Reference Database for Building Envelope Research Prev
Next

Review of concentration standards and guidelines for fungi in indoor air

Rao, C., Burge, H. and Chang, J.
1996
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 1996;46(9):899-908.


Rao, C., Burge, H. and Chang, J., (1996), "Review of concentration standards and guidelines for fungi in indoor air", Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 1996;46(9):899-908.
Abstract:
Existing quantitative standards/guidelines for fungi in indoor air issued by governmental agencies are based primarily on baseline data (rather than health effects data), and are either absolute (numerical) or relative (indoor/outdoor comparisons) or a combination of the two. The Russian Federation is the only governmental agency that has binding quantitative regulations for bioaerosols. Recommended guidelines have been proposed or sponsored by North American and European governmental agencies and private professional organizations. A considerable number of frequently cited guidelines have been proposed by individuals based either on baseline data or on personal experience. Quantitative standards/guidelines range from less than 100 CFU/m3 to greater than 1000 CFU/m3 (total fungi) as the upper limit for non-contaminated indoor environments. Major issues with existing quantitative standards and guidelines are the lack of connection to human dose/response data, reliance on short term grab samples analyzed only by culture, and the absence of standardized protocols for data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Urgent research needs include the study of human responses to specific fungal agents, development and widespread use of standard protocols using currently available sampling methodologies, and the development of long term, time-discriminating personal samplers that are inexpensive, easy to use, and amenable to straightforward, relevant analysis.

Related Resources:

This publication in whole or part may be found online at: This link has not been checked.here.

Related Concepts


Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Rao, C.
     
Burge, H.
  1. An update on pollen and fungal spore aerobiology
  2. Characterization of fungi occurring on "new" gypsum wallboard
  3. Distribution of various fungi reported on different indoor substrates
  4. Dustborne and airborne fungal propagules represent a different spectrum of fungi with differing relations to home characteristics
  5. Fungal growth in buildings: the aerobiological perspective
  6. Health risk assessment of fungi in home environments
  7. Indoor allergens: assessing and controlling adverse health effects
  8. Moisture, organisms, and health effects
  9. Populations and determinants of airborne fungi in large office buildings
  10. Quantification of ergosterol and 3-hydroxy fatty acids in settled house dust by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: Comparison with fungal culture and determination of endotoxin by a Limulus amebocyte lysate assay  
Chang, J.
  1. Assessing the performance of full-scale environmental chambers using an independently measured emissions source
  2. Gas-phase mass transfer model for predicting volatile organic compound (VOC) emission rates from indoor pollutant sources
  3. Static chamber method for evaluating the ability of indoor materials to support microbial growth  



CRDBER, at CBS, BCEE, ENCS, Concordia,