Lateral fungal spore movement inside a simulated wall

Abstract

Moisture inside walls can facilitate mold growth if left untreated. Once spores become airborne they may interact with pressures inside walls. Two laboratory experiments were conducted to determine if airborne spores have the potential to migrate laterally inside walls with and without wiring instal- lations. A simulated wall was fabricated, and Penicillium chrysogenum spores were aerosolized into a distant stud bay and an adjacent stud bay. The wall was subjected to a typical indoor pressure. Spore levels inside the bays were sampled, and a total of 36 trials (n = 36) were conducted. Results of Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed that spore levels inside the sampling bay and the distant bay with wiring installations were not significantly different. Spore levels inside the sampling bay were significantly lower than the adjacent bay without wiring installa- tions (P \ 0.05). The findings of the study suggest airborne fungal spores have the potential to move laterally inside walls.