Research to develop a database of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) associated with mold growth in problem building environments will be developed through research funded byASHRAE(Atlanta). At its annual meeting ASHRAE approved five research projects, totaling $651,156, in the areas of energy conservation, indoor air quality, comfort and health, and fire and safety.

Among them is 1243-TRP, Detection and Removal of Gaseous Effluents and By-Products of Fungal Growth That Affect Environments - Phase II: Development of A mVOC Database. The principal investigators are Donald Cortes, Ph.D., and Elliott Horner, Ph.D., with Air Quality Sciences Inc. (Marietta, GA).

The project is expected to take 18 months to complete a cost of $150,000. In the project, mVOCs associated with specific common mold species will be identified and measured. The species then will be grown under realistic building conditions to establish sampling procedures. The procedures will be validated in real building environments. The data from the study will be provided to ASHRAE in a database format.