title: [Indoor moulds: results of the environmental study in office rooms].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to quantitatively and qualitatively identify moulds occurring in the air of selected office rooms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in the wintertime inside four office rooms with moisture trace and one control room. To assess mycological contamination of the air, triple samples were directly collected on Petri dishes (Malt Extract Agar medium) using a Burkard air sampler. Qualitative evaluation of moulds was based on the microscopic view and morphological features of colonies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total number of moulds determined in the air of office rooms did not exceed the level of 4 x 10(2) cfu/m3. The highest concentration of moulds (3.44 x 10(2) cfu/m3) was found in the room that was also used as an archive. It was over tenfold higher than in the control room (0.33 x 10(2) cfu/m3). The qualitative analysis of moulds showed the presence of 15 species. Some of them, including Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus ochraceus, Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp. and Alternaria spp., are recognized as potential health hazards to workers due to the production of mycotoxins and allergic reactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The archive was the only room, where concentration of moulds slightly exceeded the reference value. To protect the health of workers who perform their duties in this place, the documents, which are an ideal place of mould growth, should be moved to a separate room. Respiratory complaints reported by workers could be associated with concentrations and species of moulds found in the office rooms under study.
authors.affiliation: Załdad Srodowiskowych Zagrozeń Zdrowia, Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera, Łódź. alina@imp.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buczyńska
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cyprowski
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piotrowska
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szadkowska-Stańczyk
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001109:Archives; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational