Measurement techniques

A range of instrumentation is available for monitoring physical, biological and chemical pollutants in the buildings. For example, a range of instrumentation can be used to carry out biological risk assessment of moulds, bacteria and house dust mites in the indoor environment. Physical environmental monitoring, e.g. for temperature and humidity, can be carried out to determine the ideal conditions in the indoor environment.

The choice of sampling equipment requires careful consideration of the purposes of the investigation, the information required, the characteristics of the biological pollutants in the environment being studied and the sampling and trapping efficiencies of the available samplers.

Sampling methods cover sampling for airborne allergens, airborne mycotoxins, volatile metabolites and endotoxins.

Sampling methods for man-made mineral fibres, natural dusts and particulates, gases, vapours and fumes are also available.

For moulds and micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, actinomycetes, pollens, house dust mite and moulds) in the indoor environment, it is important to establish, from a health and safety point of view:

• maximum exposure limits;
• occupational exposure standards; and
• compliance with regulatory standards.

The most common moulds are:

• in indoor air: Cladosporium herbarum, Eurotium herbariorum, Penicillium species, Aspergillus species and Wallemia species.
• in indoor dust: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus versicolor, Aureobasidium pullulans, Mucor species, Phoma species and yeasts.