B065 Fungi exposure risk

Fungal exposure risk in indoor environment

Brief:

In this study, taking the outdoor airborne fungi exposure level as a reference, relative index of fungal exposure (RIFE) of an indoor environment regarding certain airborne fungus of health concerns was proposed. In particular, the exposure risk levels were determined from the product of two independent assessment parameters of exposure, i.e. the occurrence frequency (OF) and the relative abundance (RA). A high exposure risk environment would be characterized by a high RIFE value. From an indoor air quality audit in 82 ‘excellent’ air-conditioned offices, it was reported that Cladosporium is a dominant fungal genus which presented in 49% and 92% of indoor and outdoor air samples, and contributed to 17% and 18% of the total airborne fungi counts indoors and outdoors, and the benchmark RIFE of Cladosporium in the air-conditioned offices was 0.48. This study provides a reference in specifying the relative exposure risk of airborne fungi in indoor environment.

Further Information:

Chan WY, Mui KW, Wong LT, 2008. Fungal exposure risk in indoor environment, The 11^th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 17-22 August, Copenhagen, Denmark, Paper ID 4.