The term Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a combination of ailments occurring in a specific building. Building occupants complain of symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, fainting, nausea, irritation of the mucosal membranes, skin irritation and other nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions.One of the SBS causes can be molds, which are ubiquitous in the air (over 400 species). It is estimated that 30% of the health problems (related to the air quality) is connected with the exposure to molds. Mold spores, especially when present in abnormally high quantities, contaminate the air and penetrate to the respiratory tract or settle on the skin surface. Molds produce mycotoxins and volatile compounds. Mycotoxins are produced by Stachybotrys atra, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus flavus (aflatoxin) and Penicillium meleagrinum. Inhalation of these molds can cause symptoms of poisoning. Aditionally, aflatoxins produced by A. flavus and A. parasiticus possess a proven carcinogenic activity.SBS is considered as an important issue, so an indoor-air-quality evaluation of the building (assessment of molds location and prevalence) is crucial to the efficacious remedial action of SBS.
Authors
Additional information
- Category
- Publikacja monograficzna
- Type
- rozdział, artykuł w książce - dziele zbiorowym /podręczniku w języku o zasięgu międzynarodowym
- Language
- angielski
- Publication year
- 2012
Source: MOSTWiedzy.pl - publication "Sick building syndrome due to molds" link open in new tab
