Volatile metabolites produced by two fungal species cultivated on building materials

Two fungal species commonly found in indoor environments, Penicillium commune and Paecilomyces variotü, were cultivated on pine wood and on a combination of gypsum board and mineral wool. Air from the cultures was adsorbed on Tenax TA and analysed using thermal desorption-cold trap injection gas chromatography. Identification of the produced volatile metabolites was performed by mass spectrometry. The majority of the compounds produced were alcohols, ketones, ethers and terpenoid compounds. Commonly produced metabolites were 2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 2-heptanone, 2-pentanone and 2,5-dimethyl-furan. The production was highly influenced by both medium and species.