In order to identify the effects of various kinds of floor materials and that of humidity on theconcentration of mite allergens in houses of allergy patients, measurements were carried outin two houses near Tokyo in August, November and December 2001. Temperature, humidityand mite allergens, Der p 1, Der f 1 and Der 2, were measured and a questionnaire survey wasconducted.

Thirty classrooms in 10 schools in Shanghai, China, were investigated in winter. Dust wascollected by vacuum cleaning, analysed for ergosterol, muramic acid, and 3-hydroxy fattyacids (LPS) by tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MSMS). Airborne microoganisms weresampled on Nucleopore filters (CAMNEA). The compound 1-octen-3-ol was found in higherconcentrations in indoor than in outdoor air. Total indoor bacteria were positively correlatedto both LPS and muramic acid in settled dust. Indoor and outdoor air contained many viablespecies.

During the research, air samples were taken by exposure of agar plates and taking smearsamples from the AC equipment. Sampling took place during the autumn because theconcentration of spores at that time reaches its peak.

In two school buildings, concentrations of viable fungal spores in air, material and insurface samples were high indicating moisture and mould damages. Microbesincluded numerous moisture indicating species (e.g. Aspergillus versicolor,Trichoderma, Fusarium, Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, Streptomyces). After renovation,the school buildings were thoroughly cleaned. Surfaces still had abundant anddiversiform microflora. After repeated cleaning, abundance and diversity ofmicroflora diminished.

Moisture-related indicators indoors are, e.g. visible mould and damp spots, condensation onthe inside of window panes, detached floor covering materials, flooding and bad odours. Suchindicators are frequently found and are reported to appear in 25-80% of the buildingsworldwide (Bornehag et al., 2001). Dampness has also been identified as a major risk factorfor, e.g. respiratory symptoms such as asthma, cough and wheezing among both children andadults (Bornehag et al., 2001).

The aim of the study was to find out if the location of material has effect onmicrobiological findings. Material samples (n = 735) were taken from the buildingswith susceptible moisture damages. Viable fungal spores and bacteria were analysedfrom paperboard, insulation material and wood samples from inner and outer parts ofconstruction. Microbial biodiversity was largest in inner parts of construction. In wallcavity, insulation material had largest microbial diversity.

Especially in new buildings we could find striking concentrations of MVOCs and we couldnot localize mould damage. We first supposed that some MVOC components are not specificfor microorganisms but normal VOC from new materials. But very often the mould dogmarked walls and floors spacious in new buildings where we detected MVOC in the indoorair.To obtain information if new materials contain microorganisms, we analysed gypsumboard, Styrofoam and mineralic insulation material for fungi and bacteria that we purchasedin three different hardware stores.

This paper discusses research conducted to determine the status of indoor air chemicalpollution caused by formaldehyde in government offices in 2001. This research involvedmeasurements of formaldehyde concentration and questionnaires on the office rooms inapproximately 300 buildings.

Information is needed about the overall nature of the reasonably foreseeable exposures fromconsumer products, including intended exposures of chemicals released into the air by design(e.g. fragrance materials), and other inhalation, dermal, and oral exposures arising from theuse of consumer products (CPs) in the indoor environment.

The aim of this study is to help dimension the Sol Depressurization System against radon inexisting buildings.First, various remediation techniques implemented on existing buildings are comparedregarding the reduction of indoor radon concentration. The results show that techniques thatdeal with basements have generally the best efficiency and in particular the SoilDepressurization Systems.In situ test equipment has been developed in order to dimension these systems. It has beenused on different basements such as crawl spaces and cellar.