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Microorganisms and volatile organic compounds in airborne dust from damp residences

Nilsson, A ; Kihlstrom, E ; Lagesson, V ; Wessen, B ; Szponar, Bogumila LU ; Larsson, Lennart LU and Tagesson, C (2004) In Indoor Air 14(2). p.74-82
Abstract
Airborne dust samples from damp (n = 9) and control (n = 9) residences were analyzed for microorganisms (molds and bacteria), bacterial markers (3-hydroxy fatty acids and muramic acid), and adsorbed volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The number of mold species was greater in the damp residences than in the controls (23 vs.18) and nine mold species were found only in damp residences. The levels of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and muramic acid correlated better in damp residences than in controls, indicating that damp conditions affect the bacterial flora of airborne dust. Identifications made by culture and microscopy of the major molds found, i.e. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillum, coincided with the identification of VOCs known to be... (More)
Airborne dust samples from damp (n = 9) and control (n = 9) residences were analyzed for microorganisms (molds and bacteria), bacterial markers (3-hydroxy fatty acids and muramic acid), and adsorbed volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The number of mold species was greater in the damp residences than in the controls (23 vs.18) and nine mold species were found only in damp residences. The levels of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and muramic acid correlated better in damp residences than in controls, indicating that damp conditions affect the bacterial flora of airborne dust. Identifications made by culture and microscopy of the major molds found, i.e. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillum, coincided with the identification of VOCs known to be produced by these species. A number of additional VOCs irritating to the skin, eyes, or respiratory tract were also found. The results from this pilot study illustrate the diversity of microorganisms and VOCs present in the indoor environment and suggest that analysis of airborne dust may help to assess human exposure to microorganisms and chemical compounds. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
GC-UV, GC-MS, volatile organic compounds, airborne dust, microorganisms
in
Indoor Air
volume
14
issue
2
pages
74 - 82
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000189258500001
  • pmid:15009412
  • scopus:1642566609
ISSN
0905-6947
DOI
10.1046/j.1600-0668.2003.00178.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e65d6711-8fcd-4ace-88a1-81aeb9c98863 (old id 286425)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:11:58
date last changed
2022-04-15 02:48:59
@article{e65d6711-8fcd-4ace-88a1-81aeb9c98863,
  abstract     = {{Airborne dust samples from damp (n = 9) and control (n = 9) residences were analyzed for microorganisms (molds and bacteria), bacterial markers (3-hydroxy fatty acids and muramic acid), and adsorbed volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The number of mold species was greater in the damp residences than in the controls (23 vs.18) and nine mold species were found only in damp residences. The levels of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and muramic acid correlated better in damp residences than in controls, indicating that damp conditions affect the bacterial flora of airborne dust. Identifications made by culture and microscopy of the major molds found, i.e. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillum, coincided with the identification of VOCs known to be produced by these species. A number of additional VOCs irritating to the skin, eyes, or respiratory tract were also found. The results from this pilot study illustrate the diversity of microorganisms and VOCs present in the indoor environment and suggest that analysis of airborne dust may help to assess human exposure to microorganisms and chemical compounds.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, A and Kihlstrom, E and Lagesson, V and Wessen, B and Szponar, Bogumila and Larsson, Lennart and Tagesson, C}},
  issn         = {{0905-6947}},
  keywords     = {{GC-UV; GC-MS; volatile organic compounds; airborne dust; microorganisms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{74--82}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Indoor Air}},
  title        = {{Microorganisms and volatile organic compounds in airborne dust from damp residences}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1600-0668.2003.00178.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1046/j.1600-0668.2003.00178.x}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}