title: Assessment of mold concentrations in Singapore shopping centers using mold-specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) analysis.
abstract: Molds can pose a human health threat and may amplify in buildings in humid climates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mold growth in Singapore shopping centers based on the collection of 40 dust samples from 15 shopping centers, including one with a history of water damage. The dust was analyzed by a DNA-based technology called mold-specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR). In a water-damaged shopping center, most of the 26 water-damage indicator species were detected at some concentration and many were much more abundant than the average in the shopping centers. MSQPCR is a useful method for quantifying indoor molds in tropical climates.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Zhen Ann
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.forename: Vivien
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Lee Chen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vesper
keywords: MSQPCR; Mold; Shopping centers; Singapore