In the past, systems for modeling indoor mold have used a single species of fungus, grown on agar, in petri dishes. But the investigators, led by Anne Mette Madsen, PhD, created a much more realistic model. First, they sampled dust from 27 homes, for fungus species. The aerosols contained at least eleven species, nine of which were associated with water damage in homes, said Madsen, Senior Researcher at The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark. They then inoculated gypsum board with that dust, in order to grow the fungus.

Once fungi were growing on the gypsum boards, Madsen and her collaborators blew air onto the gypsum boards, to aerosolize the fungus. They then placed the aerosols into a special chamber used to expose mice to the aerosolized fungus.

“We generated realistic aerosols in terms of the species composition, the concentration, and particle sizes,” said Madsen. “The variation we measured in exposure level we measured during the 60 minutes of aerosol generation was similar to the variation we measured in the homes. We also showed that many of the fungal species found in Danish homes have also been found in US buildings, and are associated with water damage.”

The system can be used to study how mice respond to indoor fungi associated with water damage, Madsen noted. Human reactions to the fungus can be extrapolated, to some extent, from those of the mice.

For most people, mold is not a substantial health hazard, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But those with weakened immune systems or mold allergies are vulnerable. The agency recommends that such people avoid areas with obvious mold contamination, and should “keep hands, skin, and clothing clean and free from mold-contaminated dust.”