Episode description

Do you need to know if your indoor air quality is being affected by mould spores? Has your property been water damaged? Is there a smell? Are you concerned about biotoxins? Covering the what, how and why of spore trap testing. I'm also discussing some real world examples from under the microscope. Find out when they are useful and my Top 6 tips for success and some pitfalls of this widely used method. I’ll also be doing a Q&A and links to papers/resources will be provided after the livestream in the description or comments.

TOP 6 TIPS FOR SUCCESS WITH SPORE TRAPS:
 
1. Take enough samples - must have representative data to answer questions about habitability across the home and in regions of interest
2. Adequate controls taken - statistical significance
3. Samples taken in the breathing zone
4. Spore trap data linked to other types of sampling
5. Consider destructive testing where there’s a suspicion of hidden mould eg. behind walls
6. Always test the roof void - often the hidden mould reservoir

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REFERENCES

Jones CL. Crowd Sourced Taxonomic Identification Guide for Categorization
and Quantification of Fungal Spores by Optical Microscopy. J Mycol
Mycological Sci 2019, 2(1): 000106. https://www.medwinpublishers.com/OAJMMS/OAJMMS16000106.pdf

ASTM D7391 - 17e1 Standard Test Method for Categorization and Quantification of Airborne Fungal Structures in an Inertial Impaction Sample by Optical Microscopy. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7391.htm

ASTM D7440 - 08(2015)e1 Standard Practice for Characterizing Uncertainty in Air Quality Measurements. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7440.htm

ASTM D7338 - 14 Standard Guide for Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7338.htm WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould. Publication date: 2009. www.who.int/airpollution/guidelines/dampness-mould/en/

Carol Y. Rao , Harriet A. Burge & John C.S. Chang (1996) Review of Quantitative Standards and Guidelines for Fungi in Indoor Air, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 46:9, 899-908, DOI: 10.1080/10473289.1996.10467526

Cabral, J.P.S. (2010). Can we use indoor fungi as bioindicators of indoor air quality? Historical perspectives and open questions. Science of The Total Environment. 408(20): 4285-4295. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.005

Dananche ́ C, Gustin M-P, Cassier P, Loeffert ST, Thibaudon M, Be ́net T, et al. (2017) Evaluation of hirst-type spore trap to monitor environmental fungal load in hospital. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0177263. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0177263