Characterization of Microbial Volatile Organic

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Characterization of Microbial Volatile Organic

Compounds (MVOC) Emitted by Stachybotrys

chartarum.

By D. A. Betancourt*, T. R. Dean*, M. Y. Menetrez* and S.A.*

* Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, National Risk

Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA, phone 919-541-

9446, fax 919-541-2157, email betancourt.doris@...

Abstract

Stachybotrys chartarum is a filamentous fungi usually found in water-damaged

buildings. Severe illnesses including pulmonary, immunologic, neurologic, and

oncogenic disorders have been reported after indoor exposure to this mold.

Toxicity has

been associated to the production of secondary metabolites (i.e., mycotoxins),

and the

emission of by-products, specifically microbial volatile organic compounds

(MVOC).

This study used three toxigenic strains of S. chartarum found in water-damaged

buildings. The test strains were cultivated on sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA)

plates and

gypsum wallboard. The inoculated substrates, with their subsequent fungal

growth, were

incubated in a closed glass environmental growth chamber maintained at room

temperature and constant relative humidity. Atmospheric gas samples were

collected for

four consecutive weeks using Tenax TA tubes. The tubes were thermally desorbed

and

the MVOC's were identified by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The

data

showed that anisole was emitted from both substrates used and its concentration

remained

constant throughout the 28 days incubation period. Other MVOC's identified at

different

times during the incubation period, were 3-octanone, styrene, 3-methyl-anisole

and 4-

methyl-anisole. Future studies will include the utilization of other common

building

materials (ceiling tile, wood, carpet) as substrates for the cultivation of S.

chartarum and

the determination of MVOC emissions. Although MVOC have been studied extensively

for other filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, not much

research have

been done for MVOC's emitted by S. chartarum. These studies are expected to

provide

useful knowledge for the identification of the unique MVOC produced by

S.chartarum in

order to effectively detect and control the toxigenic mold.

Introduction

Stachybotrys chartarum is a filamentous fungi usually identified in waterdamaged

dwellings and in indoor environments with improper moisture management 1.

It has been speculated that the presence of this mold may trigger sick building

syndrome

(SBS) symptoms such as allergic reactions (e.g., irritated eyes, nose and

throat) 2-4.

Severe illnesses including pulmonary, immunologic, neurologic, and oncogenic

disorders

have been reported after indoor exposure with this mold. Toxicity has been

associated

with the production of spores, mycotoxins and emissions of volatile by-products.

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