November 8, 2002—Air Quality Sciences Inc., an indoor air quality consulting and testing firm, has been selected by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to research and develop a database of microbial volatile organic compounds.
These compounds, which are organic chemicals released by molds, are responsible for the characteristic moldy, damp, or musty odors observable in indoor environments contaminated by mold growth. Many of these chemicals are known irritants to humans and are suspected to contribute to “sick building syndrome” effects among building occupants, including eye and upper respiratory irritation, headache, and general flu-like symptoms.
Air Quality Sciences was the first commercial laboratory in the United States to develop analytical techniques for measuring microbial volatile organic compounds and to publish field studies of their potential use as mold indicators. As part of its on-going research efforts, the company will expand its analytical detection capability so that a more extensive database of the chemicals can be established. The availability of this database and accompanying analytical tools will allow building consultants and engineers to better diagnose and remediate mold-infested buildings.
For more information, contact ASHRAE.
