Emission patterns and emission rates of MVOC and the possibility for predicting hidden mold damage?

Abstract

Microorganisms like bacteria and molds produce a huge variety of substances, and a part of them are released into the environment. Some compounds like, e.g. alcohols or ketones are volatile, therefore found in the air and called MVOC. Those compounds were considered helpful to track especially hidden mold damage. The study presented here showed, that the emission pattern varies from genus to genus and sometimes even from fungal strain to fungal strain. The results concerning the emission rates from different infested building materials proved, that the concentrations produced are much too low to be detected in indoor air, especially considering the dilution because of ventilation. Therefore, we conclude that MVOC should not be used as predictors for mold damage in indoor environments.

Relationship between selected indoor volatile organic compounds, so-called microbial VOC, and the prevalence of mucous membrane symptoms in single family homes

“…However, compounds, so-called MVOC, are also emitted from plants, furniture, furnishing, and building materials (Konig et al, 1995;Korpi et al, 1999;Pasanen et al, 1998;Schleibinger et al, 2004). Previous studies failed to find any strong association between indoor mold status and MVOC (Schleibinger et al, 2005;Schleibinger et al, 2008).…”

“…From previously reports (Elke et al, 1999;Schleibinger et al, 2005;Wessen and Schoeps, 1996), five major alcohols and three ketones were selected as the target compounds of MVOC to define the sampling rates. A MVOC measurement was conducted using the diffusive sampling method which was validated in advance (Araki et al, 2009).…”

Bacteria and Fungi Levels in Various Indoor and Outdoor Environments in Ankara, Turkey

“…A minimum dose that can pose a health risk has not yet been well established [43]. When bioaeorosol sampling is conducted in an indoor environment, an outdoor bioaerosol sample should be taken for comparison of the indoor and outdoor source strengths.…”

Fungal Air Quality in Medical Protected Environments

“…A second study with materials inoculated with conidial suspensions of the same three fungal species and placed in closed chambers showed that fungi, even before visible growth occurred, released 19 different VOCs, suggesting that identification of these molecules can be used for a rapid and reliable detection of the presence of fungal growth in materials (Moularat et al, 2008b). Schleibinger et al (2005) studied the release of VOCs by Penicillium brevicompactum, Aspergillus versicolor, Eurotium amstelodami and Chaetomium globosum (two strains of each) growing in five different substrates. It was found that fungi released low amounts of VOCs, these encompassed a wide diversity of molecules, and there was a variation between the molecules released from the two strains tested for each species.…”