The majority of people spend most of their working time in office environments. The assessment of indoor work environments is important because it potentially involves a range of hazards such as chemicals, lighting, and indoor air quality issues. Microbial contamination (such as fungi and moulds) of the indoor working environment is an increasingly common OHSW concern, yet there are no published studies investigating typical office environments in Australia. This paucity of survey information limits the comparisons that can be made against measurements taken in workplaces that have indoor microbial air quality issues. Exposure to airborne fungal spores has the potential to exacerbate asthma, act as irritants and allergens and infrequently cause disease in susceptible individuals.

There is limited information available for OHS professionals and others involved in indoor air quality assessments and investigations, to guide the interpretation and communication of biological air quality results.

The aim of this study was to obtain profiles of indoor airborne fungi in typical South Australian office environments, including seasonal variation and indoor-outdoor air relationship. The purpose of the study and this document is to provide guidance on how to interpret data/results gained from indoor air quality monitoring of fungal contamination, and recommend approaches to investigate potential health complaints/issues.

This research was commissioned by SafeWork SA Small Grants Programme.