S154b: The microbial ecology of the indoor environment

Indoor air quality issues result in millions of dollars lost annually because of illness and irritation.  The presentation describes the various components of the indoor environment and the potential for colonization by microorganisms.  The consequences of colonization and the various test suitable for examining both recovery and colonization by microorganisms are described.  Microbial sampling results from buildings with passive and active humidity control are compared. Test for the evaluation of biocides or biostatic compounds as well as the biodeterioration of materials are examined.