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DNA BASED METHOD OF MOLD AND APPLYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIVE MOLDINESS INDEX (ERMI)
Citation:
VESPER, S. J. DNA BASED METHOD OF MOLD AND APPLYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIVE MOLDINESS INDEX (ERMI). Presented at NASA Seminar, Cincinnati, OH, July 12, 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
1. Develop and publish a standard method or guidance document for QPCR analysis of microorganisms in environmental samples (air and water filtrates and dust).a standard method or guidance document for QPCR analysis of microorganisms in environmental samples (air and water filtrates and dust). Publication will involve a consensus standards organization. 2. Use QPCR methods to monitor childhood exposures to mold as a part of field studies, in order to establish whether a relationship exists between molds encountered in indoor environments and asthma-related health problems.
Description:
NASA facilities can potentially have mold contamination problems. The EPA has created an Environmental Relative Moldiness Index based on the analysis of dust by Mold Specific Quantitative PCR (MSQPCR). In this presentation, the scientific background for the ERMI will be presented. The goal of the ERMI is to be able to provide a simple, comparative value that will define the mold burden in an indoor environment.