Determination of microbial colonisation in water-damaged buildings using chemical marker analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the microbial contents of building materials subjected to water damage in a laboratory experiment and of materials collected from houses affected by water during the flood in Klodzko in south-western Poland, July 1997. The samples were examined for 3-hydroxy fatty acids, markers of bacterial endotoxin, and ergosterol, marker of fungal biomass. The amounts of both 3-hydroxy fatty acids and ergosterol were higher in materials that had been exposed to water than in unexposed ones. All markers were stable in the building materials for at least 6 weeks at room temperature and could thus be used to reveal microbial contamination even when cultivation results for bacteria and fungi were negative. Direct measurement of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and ergosterol in human environments could be a useful method, e.g. in monitoring indoor air as regards presence of potentially harmful microorganisms and microbial constituents.
Szponar
B
B
Lund University, Department of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, Sweden.
Larsson
L
L
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D018533:Biomass; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005658:Fungi; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D013696:Temperature
D004731:Endotoxins; D005227:Fatty Acids