Microbiology on Indoor Air '99 - What is new and interesting? An overview of selected papers presented in Edinburgh, August, 1999

A multidisciplinary approach to microbiological implications of indoor air is fruitful for research as well as management of health and building probl ems. The Finnish and the Danish mold programs are examples of such producti ve collaborative studies. Dust samples taken from classrooms in schools whe re occupants complain of building-related symptoms (BRS) demonstrated an in flammatory potential in vitro, measured as a release of cytokine interleuki n (IL)-8. An increase of the metabolite NO and liberation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and other cytokines during exposure were obtained in vi vo, was presented based on these programs and on epidemiological studies on residential fungal contamination and health conducted in Canada and The Ne therlands. New methods for assessing fungal exposure are PCA analysis for t he toxigenic mold Stachybotrys chartarum and EPS-Asp/Pen for detecting of A spergillus and Penicillium in dust. Based on a limited data set it is shown that emission rates of fungal spores are inversely proportional to relativ e humidity (RH), directly related to flow rate and to surface loading. Poor maintenance, risk constructions and risk materials are described in severa l studies as the main causes of water damage in buildings.