| Title: | Fungal colonization of air filters and insulation in a multi-story office building: production of volatile organics |
| Author(s): | Ahearn DG; Crow SA; Simmons RB; Price DL; Mishra SK; Pierson DL; |
| Address: | "Environmental Research Center, Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30302-4010, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0343-8651 (Print) 0343-8651 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Secondary air filters in the air-handling units on four floors of a multi-story office building with a history of fungal colonization of insulation within the air distribution system were examined for the presence of growing fungi and production of volatile organic compounds. Fungal mycelium and conidia of Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. were observed on insulation from all floors and both sides of the air filters from one floor. Lower concentrations of volatile organics were released from air filter medium colonized with fungi as compared with noncolonized filter medium. However, the volatiles from the colonized filter medium included fungal metabolites such as acetone and a carbonyl sulfide-like compound that were not released from noncolonized filter medium. The growth of fungi in air distribution systems may affect the content of volatile organics in indoor air" |
| Keywords: | "Acetone/metabolism Air Conditioning Air Pollution, Indoor Cladosporium/growth & development/*isolation & purification/metabolism *Environmental Microbiology Equipment and Supplies/*microbiology Fungi/growth & development/isolation & purification Penicilli;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineAhearn, D G Crow, S A Simmons, R B Price, D L Mishra, S K Pierson, D L eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 1998/02/14 Curr Microbiol. 1997 Nov; 35(5):305-8. doi: 10.1007/s002849900259" |
