Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Indoor airborne mold spores in newly built dwellings

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the relationships between sick building syndrome and mold in newly-built dwellings.

Methods

Symptoms of 61 residents in 18 dwellings were surveyed by standardized questionnaires. Mold sampling was done by gravity sampling using an open Petri dish. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) and dichloran-18% glycerol agar (DG-18) were used as the culture medium.

Results

There were 6 dwellings in which at least one inhabitant complained of one or more symptoms and 12 dwellings in which none of the inhabitants complained of symptoms. There was a tendency for the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms to have larger colony forming units (CFU) on PDA than those without inhabitants reporting symptoms (p=0.1), but there was no difference in DG-18 result. There was a tendency for the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms to have larger CFU ofCladosporium on PDA than those without (p=0.08), but there was no difference in DG-18 result. Significantly moreUlocladium sp. was detected in the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms than in those without (p=0.03).Cladosporium cladosporioides was detected in all the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms and 75% of the dwellings without.Cladosporium macrocarpum andCladosporium herbarum were detected in 33% of the dwellings with inhabitants reporting e symptoms and none of the dwellings without (p=0.1).

Conclusion

Cladosporium was dominant in the Japanese newly-built dwellings studied, andCladosporium andUlocladium were probably associated with the residents’ symptoms in these newly-built dwellings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Schneider T, Sundell J, Bischof W, Bohgard M, Cherrie JW, Clausen PA, Dreborg S, Kildeso J, Kaergaard SK, Lovik M, Pasanen P, Skyberg K. ‘EUROPART’. Airborne particles in the indoor environment. A European interdisciplinary review of scientific evidence on associations between exposure to particles in buildings and health effects. Indoor Air. 2003; 13: 38–48.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Molhave L, Krzyzanowski M. The right to healthy indoor air: status by 2002. Indoor Air. 2003; 13 Suppl 6: 50–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Engvall K, Norrby C, Norback D. Sick building syndrome in relation to building dampness in multi-family residential buildings in Stockholm. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2001; 74: 270–278.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Haverinen U, Husman T, Vahteristo M, Koskinen O, Moschandreas D, Nevalainen A, Pekkanen J. Comparison of two-level and three-level classifications of moisture-damaged dwellings in relation to health effects. Indoor Air. 2001; 11: 192–199.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Koskinen OM, Husman TM, Meklin TM, Nevalainen AI. The relationship between moisture or mould observations in houses and the state of health of their occupants. Eur Respir J. 1999; 14: 1363–1367.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Platt SD, Martin CJ, Hunt SM, Lewis CW. Damp housing, mould growth, and symptomatic health state. BMJ. 1989; 298: 1673–1678.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Engvall K, Norrby C, Norback D. Asthma symptoms in relation to building dampness and odour in older multifamily houses in Stockholm. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2001; 5: 468–477.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hirsch T, Range U, Walther KU, Hederer B, Lassig S, Frey G, Leupold W. Prevalence and determinants of house dust mite allergen in East German homes. Clin Exp Allergy. 1998; 28: 956–964.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Waegemaekers M, Van Wageningen N, Brunekreef B, Boleij JS. Respiratory symptoms in damp homes. A pilot study. Allergy. 1989; 44: 192–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Brunekreef B. Damp housing and adult respiratory symptoms. Allergy. 1992; 47: 498–502.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Saijo Y, Kishi R, Sata F, Katakura Y, Urashima Y, Hatakeyama A, Kobayashi S, Jin K, Kurahashi N, Kondo T, Gong YY, Umemura T. Symptoms in relation to chemicals and dampness in newly built dwellings. Int Arch Occup Environ Med. 2004; 77: 461–470.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Saijo Y, Reiko K, Sata F, Katakura Y, Urashima Y, Hatakeyama A, Mukaihara N, Kobayashi S, Jin K, Iikura Y. Symptoms of sick house syndrome and its contributing factors; Study of general dwellings in Hokkaido. Jpn J Public Health. 2002; 49: 1169–1183. (Article in Japanese, English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Redlich CA, Sparer J, Cullem MR. Sick-building syndrome. Lancet. 1997; 349: 1013–1016.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mizoue T, Reijula K, Andersson K. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and overtime work as risk factors for sick building syndrome in Japan. Am J Epidemiol. 2001; 154: 803–808.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Paper KB, Femmell DI. The Genus Aspergillus. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Barron GL. The Genera of Hyphomycetes from Soil. New York: Robert E Kringer Publisher; 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Udagawa S, Tubaki K, Horie Y, Minoura K, Watanabe S, Yokoyama T, Yamazaki M, Miura K. Kinrui Zukan. Tokyo: Kodansha; 1978. (in Japanese)

  18. Pitt JI, Hocking AD. Fungi and food spoilage. London: Blackie Academic & Professional; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Standard Methods of Analysis in Food Safety Regulation. —Biology—. Tokyo: Japan Food Sanitation Association; 1991. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Harrison J, Pickering CA, Faragher EB, Austwick PK, Little SA, Lawton L. An investigation of the relationship between microbial and particulate indoor air pollution and the sick building syndrome. Respir. Med. 1992; 86: 225–235.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Skov P, Valbjorn O, Pedersen BV. Influence of indoor climate on the sick building syndrome in an office environment. The Danish Indoor Climate Study Group. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1990; 16: 363–371.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Teeuw KB, Vandenbroucke-Grauls CM, Verhoef J. Airborne gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin in sick building syndrome. A study in Dutch governmental office buildings. Arch Intern Med. 1994; 154: 2339–2345.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Menzies D, Tamblyn RM, Nunes F, Hanley J, Tamblyn RT. Exposure to varying levels of contaminants and symptoms among workers in two office buildings. Am J Public Health. 1996; 86: 1629–1633.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Strachan DP, Flannigan B, McCabe EM, McGarry F. Quantification of airborne moulds in the homes of children with and without wheeze. Thorax. 1990; 45: 382–387.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wood RA, Eggleston PA, Lind P, Ingemann L, Schwartz B, Graveson S, Terry D, Wheeler B, Adkinson NF Jr. Antigenic analysis of household dust samples. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1988; 137: 358–363.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Takatori K. Fungal allergy—fungal ecology in dwelling environments. Nippon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi. 2001; 42: 113–117. (Article in Japanese, English abstract)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sakai K, Tsubouchi H, Mitani K. Airborne concentration of fungal and indoor air pollutants in dwellings in Nagoya, Japan. Jpn J Public Health. 2003; 50: 1017–1029. (Article in Japanese, English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Stark PC, Burge HA, Ryan LM, Milton DK, Gold DR. Fungal levels in the home and lower respiratory tract illnesses in the first year of life. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003; 168: 232–237.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Li CS, Hsu LY. Airborne fungus allergen in association with residential characteristics in atopic and control children in a subtropical region. Arch Environ Health. 1997; 52: 72–79.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Cooley JD, Wong WC, Jumper CA, Straus DC. Correlation between the prevalence of certain fungi and sick building syndrome. Occup Environ Med. 1998; 55: 579–584.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Downs SH, Mitakakis TZ, Marks GB, Car NG, Belousova EG, Leuppi JD, Xuan W, Downie SR, Tobias A, Peat JK. Clinical importance of Alternaria exposure in children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001; 164: 455–459.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. De Hoog GS, Guarro J. Atlas of Clinical Fungi. Baarn: Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures; 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Pasanen AL. A review: fungal exposure assessment in indoor environments. Indoor Air. 2001; 11: 87–98.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Verhoeff AP, van Wijnen JH, Boleij JS, Brunekreef B, van Reenen-Hoekstra ES, Samson RA. Enumeration and identification of airborne viable mould propagules in houses. A field comparison of selected techniques. Allergy. 1990; 45: 275–284.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan

    Yasuaki Saijo, Fumihiro Sata & Reiko Kishi

  2. Department of Wellness planning, Hokkaido Asai Gakuen University, Hokkaido, Japan

    Shintaro Mizuno

  3. Food Microbiology section, Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido Institute of Public Health, Hokkaido, Japan

    Keiji Yamaguchi

  4. Center for Infections Disease Prevention, Hokkaido Institute of Public Health, Hokkaido, Japan

    Hiroyuki Sunagawa

Authors
  1. Yasuaki Saijo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fumihiro Sata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shintaro Mizuno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Keiji Yamaguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hiroyuki Sunagawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Reiko Kishi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yasuaki Saijo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saijo, Y., Sata, F., Mizuno, S. et al. Indoor airborne mold spores in newly built dwellings. Environ Health Prev Med 10, 157–161 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900809

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900809

Key words

Search

Navigation