Development of a new regenerable and low-cost biosensor to indoor microbial compounds detection : final report
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Authors
Van Cauwenberge, A.
Noêl, E.
De Coninck, J.
Discipline
Chemical engineering
Subject
HEALTH
Audience
Policy-Oriented
Scientific
Date
2012Publisher
Brussels : Federal Science Policy, 2012
Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
There is crucial concern about the presence of moulds in indoor environments and their adverse effects on human health. The indoor moulds, omnipresent in 60% of the dwellings, have indeed the potential to produce components that have been associated to several severe human health problems like allergic hypersensitivity responses, bronchitis, symptoms of asthma, pulmonary haemorrhage, potentially mortal. For instance, in Belgium, according to the Scientific Institute of Public Health, the prevalence for asthma is about 4% in the global population and is relatively stable between 2001 and 2004. Fungal spores are universal atmospheric components and are recognized as important causes of respiratory allergies. Fungi grow on most substrates if enough moisture is available, frequently colonize indoor damp places and their spores are commonly found in house dust. People living in these environments often complain about a variety of health problems probably resulting from chronic exposure to mold components.
Type
Report
Peer-Review
Not pertinent
Language
eng