Humidity in buildings, micro-organisms and toxic gas Generation

Abstract: Water is one of the most important components in our environment, but the relationships governing moisture in air and in solids in buildings are not well understood.It is well known that excessive moisture or dampness will encourage the development of fungi which may generate spores or mites which can cause severe allergic reactions, as well as bacteria such as Legionella pneumophylla which may cause toxic reactions, but abnormally low atmospheric relative humidity can explain many of the 'dry symptoms encountered in Sick Building Syndrome. Local concentrations of high moisture content may permit the development of micro-organisms such as the fungus Scopulariopsis brevicaulis which can convert relatively innocuous compounds into extremely toxic gases. Gases generated in this way in mattress Materials may be the cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

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