IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 4936: Fungal Contaminants in Energy Efficient Dwellings: Impact of Ventilation Type and Level of Urbanization

IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 4936: Fungal Contaminants in Energy Efficient Dwellings: Impact of Ventilation Type and Level of Urbanization International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph17144936 Authors: Hélène Niculita-Hirzel Shen Yang Corinne Hager Hager Jörin Vincent Perret Dusan Licina Joëlle Goyette Pernot The presence of growing fungi in the indoor environment has been associated with the development of respiratory problems such as asthma or allergic rhinitis, as well as the worsening of respiratory pathologies. Their proliferation indoors could be a result of water leakage or inadequate ventilation. Although the factors promoting mould growth have been widely investigated in traditional dwellings, little work has been done in energy efficient dwellings. Here, the effectiveness of ventilation type, i.e., natural or mechanical, in influencing mould development was estimated in 44 recent and 105 retrofitted energy efficient dwellings. Fungi growing on surfaces were investigated in the dwellings situated in rural, peri-urban, and urban regions of Switzerland. The presence of these fungi was also investigated in bedroom settled dust. Information on building characteristics and owners’ lifestyle were collected. Significant associations were found with the level of urbanisation, the location of mouldy area in dwellings, and the diversity of fungal taxa. Dwellings in peri-urban zones showed the most frequent f...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research