FUNGAL COLONIZATION OF AIR FILTERS AND INSULATION IN A MULTISTORY OFFICE BUILDING - PRODUCTION OF VOLATILE ORGANICS

Secondary air filters in the air-handling units on four floors of a mu lti-story office building with a history of fungal colonization of ins ulation within the air distribution system were examined for the prese nce of growing fungi and production of volatile organic compounds. Fun gal mycelium and conidia of Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. were obs erved on insulation from all floors and both sides of the air filters from one floor. Lower concentrations of volatile organics were release d from air filter medium colonized with fungi as compared with noncolo nized filter medium. However, the volatiles from the colonized filter medium included fungal metabolites such as acetone and a carbonyl sulf ide-like compound that were not released from noncolonized filter medi um. The growth of fungi in air distribution systems may affect the con tent of volatile organics in indoor air.