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Journal Article Ahead of print 1 citation

PubMed: 42456623 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182020

Water vapour as a carrier of mould metabolites in indoor air: an explanation for the sick building syndrome and severe morbidity.

Sci Total Environ 1047:182020

Authors: Kirsi Vaali, Michael Sulyok, Jari Louhelainen, Marika Mannerström, Tuula Heinonen, Rudolf Krska, Leena A Räsänen, Arto Visala, Panu Harmo, Mirja Salkinoja-Salonen

Affiliations

  • SelexLab, Rauhalantie 168, 02440, Luoma, Finland.
  • BOKU University, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Konrad Lorenzstr. 20, 3430, Tulln, Austria.
  • Liverpool John Moores University, Faculty of Science, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, United Kingdom.
  • The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpönkatu 34, 33014, Tampere University, Finland.
  • The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpönkatu 34, 33014, Tampere University, Finland.
  • BOKU University, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Konrad Lorenzstr. 20, 3430, Tulln, Austria; Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
  • Co-op Bionautit, Viikinkaari 9, 00790, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Microbiology, P.O. Box 4, University of Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
  • Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
  • Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
  • Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland; Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a possible but unproven culprit for sick building syndrome (SBS). We earlier showed that emitted mould exudates are carried into ambient air by water clusters. When nine students (7-12 years) moved from the damaged school to reference schools, their symptoms attenuated but reappeared, within the same day, when transferred to schools with known IAQ problems. A self-made experimental recording of glass chambers and sensors of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and non-volatiles, relative humidity, CO 2 and CN/sulphide were applied to mimic IAQ of the school. Mortar samples of the damaged school wall, when cultured on malt agar, grew alternative oxidase fungi (aox-fungi), which emitted exudates. Exudates were analysed by LC-MS/MS and tested on human BJ cells. LC-MS/MS analysis of the cultivated mortars showed that the mould-derived droplets hanging underneath culture lids transferred in water, being the same as the exudates' contents on top of mould growths. Boric acid added to the mortar cultivation, promoted the emission of mould metabolites, which were shown to be lethal to BJ cells. The results support presence of aox-fungi in the mortars, which was closest to the damaged area of the building. Cytotoxicity of the mould exudates in cultivation varied time-dependently, within two weeks, as indicated by BJ cells. The present results and earlier reported cytotoxic water vapour of this school air are the contact points between the mould exudates, damaged building and clinical symptoms: the missing link in the mystery of SBS. Analysing water vapour will reveal piggy-bagged toxic substances.

MeSH

Cells, Sick Building Syndrome, Schools, Air, Signs And Symptoms, Fungi, Morbidity, Research, Environmental Health, Environment