Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways
10:06

Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways

Published on: December 13, 2024

Indoor airborne mold spores in newly built dwellings

Yasuaki Saijo1, Fumihiro Sata, Shintaro Mizuno

  • 1Department of Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan, y-saijo@med.hokudai.ac.jp.

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
|March 25, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Sick building syndrome symptoms in new homes were linked to specific mold types. Cladosporium and Ulocladium molds were found more often in homes with resident complaints, suggesting a probable association.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Mycology
  • Indoor Air Quality

Background:

  • Newly-built dwellings can harbor indoor mold growth.
  • Sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms are a concern in residential environments.
  • Understanding mold-SBS relationships is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sick building syndrome (SBS) and mold presence in newly-built Japanese dwellings.
  • To identify specific mold species potentially linked to SBS symptoms reported by residents.

Main Methods:

  • Surveyed 61 residents in 18 newly-built dwellings using standardized questionnaires for SBS symptoms.
  • Conducted indoor air quality assessment via mold sampling using gravity sampling with Petri dishes.
  • Utilized Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Dichloran-18% Glycerol Agar (DG-18) for mold culturing and identification.

Main Results:

  • Six dwellings reported at least one resident symptom, while 12 reported none.
  • Higher colony-forming units (CFU) of Cladosporium on PDA showed a tendency in symptomatic dwellings (p=0.08).
  • Ulocladium sp. was significantly more prevalent in dwellings with reported resident symptoms (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

  • Cladosporium species were the dominant molds identified in the studied newly-built Japanese dwellings.
  • Both Cladosporium and Ulocladium molds are likely associated with residents' sick building syndrome symptoms in these new homes.
Keywords:
CladosporiumUlocladiummoldsick building syndrome

More Related Videos

Collection and Extraction of Occupational Air Samples for Analysis of Fungal DNA12:02

Collection and Extraction of Occupational Air Samples for Analysis of Fungal DNA

Published on: May 2, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Asthma-I: Introduction01:29

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment01:25

Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment

Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Efflorescence in Masonry01:25

Efflorescence in Masonry

Efflorescence in masonry walls appears as a fluffy crystalline powder, often white, resulting from water-soluble salts within the masonry or mortar. When water penetrates the masonry, it dissolves these salts and brings them to the surface, where they are deposited upon evaporation of water.
While initial efflorescence is common post-construction and can be cleaned with water and a brush, in certain instances, efflorescence can reappear and gradually diminish over time as salts are leached out...
Tuberculosis01:23

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, primarily targeting the lungs and spreading through airborne transmission. Infection begins when aerosolized droplet nuclei, expelled by an individual with active TB, are inhaled by another person. These microscopic particles carry Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Upon reaching the alveoli, the bacilli are engulfed by alveolar macrophages. However, due to their specialized lipid-rich cell wall, these pathogens...
Effects of Air-entrainment in Concrete01:28

Effects of Air-entrainment in Concrete

Air entrainment in concrete significantly enhances the material's durability, especially in environments subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. Introducing small air bubbles into the concrete mix acts as internal voids that accommodate the expansion of water when it freezes, thereby alleviating internal stress and preventing structural cracks. This function is crucial in climates with significant freezing and thawing, as it protects the concrete from repeated stresses that could lead to premature...