title: Effect of building frame and moisture damage on microbiological indoor air quality in school buildings.
abstract: The effect of building frame and moisture damage on microbial indoor air quality was characterized in 17 wooden and 15 concrete or brick school buildings. Technical investigations to detect visible moisture and mold damage were performed according to a standardized protocol. Viable airborne microbes were determined by using a six-stage impactor (Andersen 10-800). Mean concentrations of viable airborne fungi were significantly higher in wooden schools than in concrete schools, showing that the frame material was a determinant of concentrations of airborne fungi. Moisture damage of the building did not alter the fungal concentrations in wooden school buildings. In contrast, in concrete schools the effect of moisture damage was clearly seen as higher concentrations compared with the reference schools. Aspergillus versicolor, Stachybotrys, and Acremonium were detected only in samples from moisture damaged buildings, and can be considered marker fungi of such damage in school buildings. In addition, the presence of Oidiodendron as well as elevated concentrations of Cladosporium and actinobacteria were associated with moisture damage in concrete schools.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 95, FIN-70701 Kuopio, Finland. teija.meklin@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Teija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meklin
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyvärinen
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toivola
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reponen
authors.forename: Virpi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koponen
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Husman
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taskinen
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korppi
authors.forename: Aino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D003252:Construction Materials; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012574:Schools; D012621:Seasons; D014867:Water; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D014867:Water