Recent Fungal Contamination of House Dust in Dwellings

Abstract

543-0026, Japan Abstract The fungal flora in the house dust of dwellings was examined in both the winter and summer of 2006. The xerophilic fungi, Aspergillus restrictus and Wallemia , which grow in house dust, were markedly abundant as well as Cladosporium and Penicillium . The average numbers of fungi detected were larger in tatami dust than in carpet dust or in flooring dust. Floor materials, for example whether the carpet was wool or synthetic, affected the fungal contamination of house dust. Fungal contamination was found to be less on upper floors, in houses located on flat land than on the first floor or on sloping land. More fungal contamination was detected in older dwellings of 26 years or more than in newer ones of 25 years or less. The fungal count in the house dust of rooms with daily use of air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter was about half of that in rooms rarely heated or air-conditioned. Factors removing moisture from the room atmosphere and floor were thought to reduce the fungal contamination of