Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Collection and Extraction of Occupational Air Samples for Analysis of Fungal DNA
Published on: May 2, 2018
Sampling for indoor fungi
Jay M Portnoy1, Charles S Barnes, Kevin Kennedy
1Section of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Background:
A great deal of concern has arisen recently regarding the potential adverse effects of indoor fungi. Our understanding of this complex problem has been hampered by a lack of standardized protocols for performing an indoor assessment for fungi. Without such standards, it is difficult to compare results from one study with those from another or to measure the effect of indoor fungal contamination on a building and its occupants.
Methods:
We reviewed the medical literature and here describe a hypothesis-driven approach to planning, sampling, and interpreting the results of indoor assessments for fungi.
Results:
Fungi cause 3 primary adverse effects: (1) they can damage a building, (2) they can render a building unpleasant to live in by looking and smelling bad, and (3) they might cause adverse health effects in sensitive individuals. Sampling methods used to test hypotheses include air sampling for spores, measurement of allergens in house dust, and determination of microbially generated volatile organic compounds, ergosterols, glucans, and mycotoxins, as well as environmental conditions that lead to fungal contamination.
Conclusions:
Standardized approaches for performing and reporting assessments of indoor fungi are essential if our understanding of this complex field is to improve.
Insights
Standardized indoor fungal assessments are crucial for understanding health effects and building impacts. Developing consistent protocols will improve research comparability and our knowledge of indoor fungi.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Mycology
- Public Health
Background:
- Indoor fungi pose potential adverse effects, but research is limited by non-standardized assessment protocols.
- Lack of standardized methods hinders comparison between studies and accurate measurement of fungal contamination impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a hypothesis-driven approach for planning, sampling, and interpreting indoor fungal assessments.
- To address the need for standardized protocols in indoor mycology research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of medical and scientific research on indoor fungi.
- Description of a systematic approach to indoor fungal assessment, including planning and sampling strategies.
Main Results:
- Fungi can cause building damage, aesthetic issues (odor, appearance), and health problems in sensitive individuals.
- Key sampling methods include air sampling for spores, dust analysis for allergens, and detection of mycotoxins and volatile organic compounds.
Conclusions:
- Standardized approaches for indoor fungal assessment are essential for advancing scientific understanding.
- Improved standardization will facilitate more reliable research and better management of indoor fungal issues.
