scope:

This Technical Specification describes the measurement of moulds in ambient air in order to identify, quantify and characterize bioaerosol pollution in ambient air resulting from emissions from different sources (e.g. waste composting, cooling towers, agriculture). The method described specifies the long-term sampling of moulds (10 min to 24 h) as part of the suspended particulate matter (SPM, here particles with aerodynamic diameter up to ca. 30 µm) using a filter sampling system with gelatine/poly¬carbonate filter combination followed by the cultivation based analyses on DG18 agar. The health effect of bioaerosols is not limited to any particle fraction, therefore, this document describes the sampling of moulds as part of the suspended particulate matter as a convention method. NOTE The sampling method described in this document in principle is likely to be appropriate for the sampling of actinomycetes and other spore-forming bacteria (resistant to desiccation). For these species a special analytical procedure using different cultivation media should be applied, but this is not within the scope of this document. WARNING - The use of this standard may involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.