Journal of odor and indoor environment (실내환경 및 냄새 학회지)

Korean Society for Indoor Environment (한국실내환경학회)
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Assessment of the level and identification of airborne molds by the type of water damage in housing in Korea

국내 주택에서 물 피해 유형에 따른 부유곰팡이 농도 수준 평가 및 동정 분석

  • Lee, Ju Yeong (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, Environmental Infrastructure Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Hwang, Eun Seol (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, Environmental Infrastructure Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Lee, Jeong-Sub (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, Environmental Infrastructure Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Kwon, Myunghee (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, Environmental Infrastructure Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Chung, Hyen Mi (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, Environmental Infrastructure Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Seo, SungChul (Department of Environmental Health and Safety, College of Health Industry, Eulji University)
  • 이주영 (국립환경과학원 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 황은설 (국립환경과학원 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 이정섭 (국립환경과학원 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 권명희 (국립환경과학원 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 정현미 (국립환경과학원 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 서성철 (을지대학교 보건환경안전학과)
  • Received : 2018.10.31
  • Accepted : 2018.12.12
  • Published : 2018.12.31
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Abstract

Mold grows more easily when humidity is higher in indoor spaces, and as such is found more often on wetted areas in housing such as walls, toilets, kitchens, and poorly managed spaces. However, there have been few studies that have specifically assessed the level of mold in the indoor spaces of water-damaged housing in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the levels of airborne mold according to the characteristics of water damage types and explored the correlation between the distribution of mold genera and the characteristics of households. Samplings were performed from January 2016 to June 2018 in 97 housing units with water leakage or condensation, or a history of flooding, and in 61 general housing units in the metropolitan and Busan area, respectively. Airborne mold was collected on MEA (Malt extract agar) at flow rate of 100 L/min for 1 min. After collection, the samples were incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 120 hours. The cultured samples were counted and corrected using a positive hole conversion table. The samples were then analyzed by single colony culture, DNA extraction, gene amplification, and sequencing. By type of housing, concentrations of airborne mold were highest in flooded housing, followed by water-leaked or highly condensed housings, and then general housing. In more than 50% of water-damaged housing, the level of airborne mold exceeded the guideline of Korea's Ministry of Environment ($500CFU/m^3$). Of particular concern was the fact that the I/O ratio of water-damaged housing was greater than 1, which could indicate that mold damage may occur indoors. The distribution patterns of the fungal species were as follows: Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp. (14%), Aspergillus spp. (13%) and Alternaria spp. (3%), but significant differences of their levels in indoor spaces were not found. Our findings indicate that high levels of mold damage were found in housing with water damage, and Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium brevicompactum were more dominant in housing with high water activity. Comprehensive management of flooded or water-damaged housing is necessary to reduce fungal exposure.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 국립환경과학원

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Cited by

  1. Airborne mold concentration in leaky and flooded houses in Korea vol.19, pp.3, 2020, https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2020.19.3.324