Differing effects of four building materials on viable bacterial communities and VOCs

• Published in: Developments in the built environment Vol. 7; p. 100055
• Main Authors: Mhuireach, Gwynne Á., Dietz, Leslie, Griffiths, Willem, Horve, Patrick Finn, Laguerre, Aurélie, Northcutt, Dale, Vandegrift, Roo, Gall, Elliott, Van Den Wymelenberg, Kevin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: 16S; Built environment; Cross-laminated timber; Microbiome; Sustainable materials; Terpenes; Sustainable materials; Cross-laminated timber; Built environment; Terpenes; 16S; Microbiome
• ISSN: 2666-1659; 2666-1659
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2021.100055

Indoor environmental quality is a paramount concern among architects. Exposure to VOCs and microorganisms impacts occupant health, yet the role of materials on these exposures remains poorly understood. In this study, we placed four material types in individual microcosms to test whether material type influences bacterial community structure and VOC emission. We used culture-independent methods to characterize bacterial communities and TD-GC-MS to measure VOC emission. We found that viable bacterial communities had different patterns of abundance, diversity, and composition, in comparison with total (viable plus dead cells) bacterial communities. Examining viable bacteria only, Earth had the highest abundance and diversity, unique community composition, and overall negative VOC emission. Timber had the lowest bacterial abundance, composition similar to Gypsum and Concrete, and the highest VOC emission rate. Our research provides further evidence that architects’ decisions about building materials can influence chemical and microbial exposures indoors.
•Alpha diversity and composition differed in viable versus total bacterial communities.•Earth had highest bacterial abundance and diversity and overall negative VOC emission.•Timber had lowest bacterial abundance and highest VOC emission.•Building materials can influence chemical and microbial exposures indoors.