Abstract

According to some studies, individuals spend close to 90% of their time indoors. In the 1980s, because of more stringent energy conservation goals, many indoor environments (homes, schools, offices) became closed, hermetically sealed and poorly ventilated.

The increase in precipitation and humidity will also have a negative effect on indoor air by promoting the growth of microbes and the presence of other biocontaminants. For instance, mould is, and will continue to be, one of the most important contaminants, affecting the health and wellness of people exposed to it in indoor environments.

This project follows up on projects in which methods were designed and developed to analyze 20 microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) in human biological matrices and ambient air. The aim of these methods was to study these MVOCs’ potential as biomarkers to facilitate the assessment of exposure to mould in the workplace.

The primary purpose of this project is to demonstrate the field validity of this new approach, which is quick, easy and able to provide an indicator of fungal contamination in a workplace.