Microbial growth inside insulated external walls as an indoor air biocontamination source
: Pessi Anna-Mari, Suonketo Jommi, Pentti Matti, Kurkilahti Mika, Peltola Kaija,Rantio-Lehtimäki Auli
: 2002
: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
: AEM
: 68
: 2
: 963
: 967
: 5
: 0099-2240
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.68.2.963-967.2002
The association between moisture-related microbial growth (mesophilic fungi and bacteria) within insulated exterior walls and microbial concentrations in the indoor air was studied. The studied apartment buildings with precast concrete external walls were situated in a subarctic zone. Actinomycetes in the insulation layer were found to have increased concentrations in the indoor air. The moisture content of the indoor air significantly affected all measurable airborne concentrations.