Wood in the Built Environment—Conditions for Mold and Decay

Anagnost, Susan E.

doi:10.1002/9780470112434.ch8

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results show that temperature and a w , in particular, are key determinants of the development of P. vitreus, and pH plays a secondary role (Schubert et al 2009a). The results are in good agreement with those of Griffin (1977) and Anagnost (2007), who maintain that most wood decay fungi are hydrophilic organisms (a w >0.90) and require a w to be at least 0.97. Furthermore, Schmidt et al (1996Schmidt et al ( , 1997 observed an extraordinarily strong dependence of P. vitreus on high moisture levels.…”

Section: Technology Developmentsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Until the fiber saturation point (FSP) is reached, moisture in wood exists as bound or hygroscopic water within the cell wall because of hydrogen bonding of the hydroxyl groups mainly in the cellulose and hemicellulose (Schmidt 2007). At about the FSP, which ranges between 25% and 30% depending on the wood species, the content of bound water is maximal and free capillary water in liquid form is available in the cell lumen, as well in other voids in the woody tissue (Anagnost 2007;Schmidt 2007). To enable a short lag phase and high growth rate, superficial drying of wood must be avoided by setting low air flow around the wood and maintaining a high relative humidity.…”

Section: Technology Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Physisporinus vitreus: a versatile white rot fungus for engineering value-added wood products

Schwarze

Schubert

2011

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The credo of every scientist working in the field of applied science is to transfer knowledge "from science to market," a process that combines (1) science (fundamental discoveries and basic research) with (2) technology development (performance assessment and optimization) and (3) technology transfer (industrial application). Over the past 7 years, we have intensively investigated the potential of the white rot fungus, Physisporinus vitreus, for engineering value-added wood products. Because of its exceptional wood degradation pattern, i.e., selective lignification without significant wood strength losses and a preferential degradation of bordered pit membranes, it is possible to use this fungus under controlled conditions to improve the acoustic properties of tonewood (i.e., "mycowood") as well as to enhance the uptake of preservatives and wood modification substances in refractory wood species (e.g., Norway spruce), a process known as "bioincising." This minireview summarizes the research that we have performed with P. vitreus and critically discusses the challenges encountered during the development of two distinct processes for engineering value-added wood products. Finally, we peep into the future potential of the bioincising and mycowood processes for additional applications in the forest and wood industry.

show abstract

Section: Technology Developmentsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Technology Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physisporinus vitreus: a versatile white rot fungus for engineering value-added wood products

Schwarze

Schubert

2011

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this study, the minimum a w for which growth of S. lacrymans was observed is 0·948 for a lag time of 40 days with glycerol. This value is lower than those indicated in the literature for Basidiomycetes (Griffin 1977; Anagnost 2007; Schubert et al. 2009).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 68%

“…In this study, the minimum a w for which growth of S. lacrymans was observed is 0AE948 for a lag time of 40 days with glycerol. This value is lower than those indicated in the literature for Basidiomycetes (Griffin 1977;Anagnost 2007;Schubert et al 2009). However, with NaCl a minimum a w of 0AE963 was obtained for the growth of S. lacrymans, and this value is consistent with the findings of Clarke et al (1980).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 67%

Modelling the effect of temperature, water activity and pH on the growth of Serpula lacrymans

Maurice

Coroller

Debaets

et al. 2011

Journal of Applied Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aims: To predict the risk factors for building infestation by Serpula lacrymans, which is one of the most destructive fungi causing timber decay in buildings. Methods and Results: The growth rate was assessed on malt extract agar media at temperatures between 1·5 and 45°C, at water activity (aw) over the range of 0·800–0·993 and at pH ranges from 1·5 to 11·0. The radial growth rate (μ) and the lag phase (λ) were estimated from the radial growth kinetics via the plots radius vs time. These parameters were then modelled as a function of the environmental factors tested. Models derived from the cardinal model (CM) were used to fit the experimental data and allowed an estimation of the optimal and limit values for fungal growth. Optimal growth rate occurred at 20°C, at high aw level (0·993) and at a pH range between 4·0 and 6·0. The strain effect on the temperature parameters was further evaluated using 14 strains of S. lacrymans. The robustness of the temperature model was validated on data sets measured in two different wood‐based media (Quercus robur L. and Picea abies). Conclusions: The two‐step procedure of exponential model with latency followed by the CM with inflection gives reliable predictions for the growth conditions of a filamentous fungus in our study. The procedure was validated for the study of abiotic factors on the growth rate of S. lacrymans. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work describes the usefulness of evaluating the effect of physico‐chemical factors on fungal growth in predictive building mycology. Consequently, the developed mathematical models for predicting fungal growth on a macroscopic scale can be used as a tool for risk assessment of timber decay in buildings.

show abstract

“…Trained inspectors conducted our home evaluations to avoid bias that building occupants may introduce if an assessment is based on self‐reporting (WHO, ). However, no confirmations were made that what an inspector determined was mold was in fact fungal growth rather than discoloration or surface material that the inspector mistook for fungi (Anagnost, ; Miller, ). Nor was the history or cause explored for mold odor, visible water damage, peeling paint, rotting wood, or a sink leak.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher measured moisture in California homes with qualitative evidence of dampness

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Relationships between measured moisture and qualitative dampness indicators (mold odor, visible mold, visible water damage, or peeling paint) were evaluated using data collected from California homes in a prospective birth cohort study when the infants were 6 or 12 months of age (737 home visits). For repeated visits, agreement between observation of the presence/ absence of each qualitative indicator at both visits was high (71-87%, P < 0.0001). Among individual indicators, musty odor and visible mold were most strongly correlated with elevated moisture readings. Measured moisture differed significantly between repeated visits in opposite seasons (P < 0.0001), and dampness increased with the number of indicators in a home. Linear mixedeffect models showed that 10-unit increases in maximum measured moisture were associated with the presence of 0.5 additional dampness indicators (P < 0.001). Bedroom (BR) walls were damper than living room (LR) walls in the same homes (P < 0.0001), although both average and maximum readings were positively correlated across room type (r = 0.75 and 0.67, respectively, both P < 0.0001). Exterior walls were significantly damper than interior walls (P < 0.0001 in both LRs and BRs), but no differences were observed between maximum wall readings and measurements at either window corners or sites of suspected dampness. Practical ImplicationsThe more indicators of dampness or mold present in a home (especially musty odor and visible mold), the damper the walls were likely to be. In our study, the consistency of dampness indicators over time suggests that one-time, qualitative assessments of dampness and mold have value in identifying moisture problems. However, the seasonal variation seen in measured wall moisture suggests that quantitative measurements repeated at different times of year may be necessary to identify transient moisture problems. Therefore, moisture measurements may be most informative when assessed along with dampness indicators, some of which consistently have been associated with increased risks of respiratory disease, for example, mold odor, visible mold, and water damage.

show abstract

Wood in the Built Environment—Conditions for Mold and Decay

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Physisporinus vitreus: a versatile white rot fungus for engineering value-added wood products

Physisporinus vitreus: a versatile white rot fungus for engineering value-added wood products

Modelling the effect of temperature, water activity and pH on the growth of Serpula lacrymans

Higher measured moisture in California homes with qualitative evidence of dampness

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About