GROWTH-PHASE-RELATED PRODUCTION OF POTENTIAL VOLATILE-ORGANIC TRACER COMPOUNDS BY MOLDS ON WOOD

The growth-dependent production of known and new potential tracer comp ounds for moulds of the genus Penicillium on pine wood is shown. The a nalytical method used involves diffusive sampling by an adsorbent tube (Tenax-TA), thermal desorption, gas chromatography and a mass selecti ve detector. Mass spectra of identified and unidentified potential tra cer compounds are presented. Identified compounds are 1-Octene-3-ol, 2 -Heptanone, 4-Allylanisole and 9-Methyl-1-butanol. In addition, severa l other compounds were tentatively identified or recognized in differe nt samples by their retention time and mass spectra. The microbiologic ally produced volatile organic compounds (MVOC) are produced during di fferent time periods of the mould growth cycle. The impact of these re sults on screening measurements for houses with mould problems is disc ussed together with the applicability and need for new and more tracer compounds for mould growth in buildings.