Comparison of Methods to Identify and Monitor Mold Damages in Buildings

Abstract

Molds thrive in indoor environments, challenging the stability of building materials and occupants’ health. Diverse sampling and analytical techniques can be applied in the microbiology of buildings, with specific benefits and drawbacks. We evaluated the use of two methods, the microscopy of visible mold growth (hereinafter “mold” samples) (tape lifts) and the DNA metabarcoding of mold and dust samples (swabs), for mapping mold-damage indicator fungi in residential buildings in Oslo. Overall, both methods provided consistent results for the mold samples, where nearly 80% of the microscopy-identified taxa were confirmed by DNA analyses. Aspergillus was the most abundant genus colonizing all materials, while some taxa were associated with certain substrates: Acremonium with gypsum board, Chaetomium with chipboard, Stachybotrys with gypsum board and wood, and Trichoderma with wood. Based on the DNA data, the community composition was clearly different between the mold and the dust, with a much higher alpha diversity in the dust. Most genera identified in the mold were also detected with a low abundance in the dust from the same apartments. Their spatial distribution indicated some local spread from the mold growth to other areas, but there was no clear correlation between the relative abundances and the distance to the damages. To study mold damages, different microbiological analyses (microscopy, cultivation, DNA, and chemistry) should be combined with a thorough inspection of buildings. The interpretation of such datasets requires the collaboration of skilled mycologists and building consultants.

Mold in Paradise: A Review of Fungi Found in Libraries

“…The manual published by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) titled "Recognition, Evaluation and Control of Indoor Mold" [22] is one of the best single sources for guidance on the evaluation and analysis of indoor molds. Other valuable resources include Chin and Heinsohn [23], Flannigan et al [24], Verdier et al [25], and Martin-Sanchez et al [26].…”

“…Many different methods developed for the study of indoor environments have been used to assess mold damage in libraries (Figure 2). These include culturing, mechanical air samplers, spore counting, direct microscopy, and DNA and chemical analyses [22,[24][25][26]. Traditional sampling is conducted either from the air, dust, books, shelving, and other surfaces or-when evident-directly from fungal growth [27].…”

“…molds. Other valuable resources include Chin and Heinsohn [23], Flannigan et al [24], Verdier et al [25], and Martin-Sanchez et al [26].…”

Antagonism and mycoparasitism mechanism of T. harzianum against pathogenic fungus species of F. oxysporum and Capnodium sp.

“…In addition, the presence of antagonistic molds can inhibit the growth of pathogenic molds, thereby reducing human health risks associated with mycotoxin exposure. Based on this, knowledge of the antagonism of antagonistic molds and pathogenic molds needs to be studied and analyzed in order to be useful for agriculture and biological control (Martin-Sanchez et al, 2022). The purpose of the study was to determine the antagonistic power of T.harzianum mold against F.oxysporum and Capnodium sp.…”

Durability Evaluation of New Composite Materials for the Construction of Beehives

“…White rot is the most common type of wood degradation that occurs in beekeeping. It causes the lignin and cellulose present in the wood to degrade at a faster rate than that which occurs when brown or soft rot fungi are present [19,20]. Fungi of this type reproduce rapidly in environments that contain 20% or less humidity, decreasing and deteriorating the resistance of the wood in the hives by up to 50% in six months [13].…”