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Laboratory research on the efficacy of chlorine dioxide fumigation for the remediation of mold-contaminated buildings--conference paper
Citation:
BETANCOURT, D., S. D. SERRE, AND K. K. Foarde. Laboratory research on the efficacy of chlorine dioxide fumigation for the remediation of mold-contaminated buildings--conference paper. In Proceedings, Indoor Air 2011, Austin, TX, June 05 - 10, 2011. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ), Santa Cruz, CA, 6 p, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
conference paper
Description:
The purpose of this project was to determine the efficacy ofCl02 fumigation to inactivate viable mold, mycotoxins, and allergens on building materials. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus Jumigatus, Chaetomium globosum, and Stachybotrys chartarum were individually inoculated onto the surface of gypsum wallboard, pine wood, glass, and carpet. In addition, an allergen and a mycotoxin were used in pure form. Spiked building materials were fumigated with CI02 gas at low and high concentrations for several time periods. The analytical techniques included counting colony forming units (CFU) and use of enzyme-linked inmunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the antigen and mycotoxin. A 4-log reduction in CFU was observed on all materials for A. alternata, A.versicolor, and S.chartarum at 3,000 and 4,500 ppmv-hr. Allergen and mycotoxin were partially inactivated under several of the conditions tested. Cl02 fumigation has been used in the remediation of mold-contaminated buildings. However, the Environmental Protection Agency raised concerns about the potential for residual allergens and mycotoxins after fumigation of the structure. This work provides useful analytical data to document Cl02 fumigation for mold mitigation and provides better risk management alternatives for remediation purposes.
