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Correlation between environmental relative moldiness index (ERMI) values in French dwellings and other measures of fungal contamination
Citation:
Meheust, D., J. Gangneux, T. Reponen, L. Wymer, S. Vesper, AND P. Le Cann. Correlation between environmental relative moldiness index (ERMI) values in French dwellings and other measures of fungal contamination. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 438:319-324, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
This manuscript demonstrates that the ERMI scale is possibly applicable in France. This provides more general support for the correctness of the ERMI appraoch which should further strength the argument for its use.
Description:
The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) is a DNA-based metric developed to describe the fungal contamination in US dwellings. Our goal was to determine if the ERMI values in dwellings in north western France were correlated with other measures of fungal contamination. Dust and air samples were obtained from 40 dwellings and analyzed by quantitative PCR and/or by culturing. These dwellings were also inspected and the amount ofvisible fungal growth estimated in m2. The ERMI values in these dwellings ranged from -2.7 to 28.8 and the fungal contamination estimates ranged from 0 to 20 m2. The 40 dwellings were divided into those with a low (<6) or high (>8) ERMI values (n=20 in each). The average ERMI value was 15.70 for the high ERMI compared to 2.68 for the low ERMI dwellings. ERMI values were correlated (significant Kendall’s tau values) with concentrations of fungi in air samples analyzed by QPCR or culturing. ERMI values were also correlated (significant Kendall’s tau values) with the visible estimates of fungal contamination. Older dwellings were more likely to have higher ERMI values. These results suggest that the ERMI dust sample, which is quick and easy to collect, may be useful in making decisions about reducing fungal exposures in homes.
