Fungi in wooden houses build in vicinity of the Vilnius city

Abstract

In 2000-2006 mycological condition of wooden buildings used for different purposes in Vilnius has been investigated. From walls, ceilings, various equipment, air, dust micromycetes were isolated and identified; majority of them belong to the Mitosporic fungi group. The degree of their spread and their hazard to the living, working or visiting people are discussed. Improvement of the conditions in the premises is essential because it reduces the hazard of respiratory disorders, asthma, allergies, skin diseases, mycoses, etc. Wooden houses of Vilnius are characterised by specific fungi developing on them. The tests showed that on old balks Daedalea Pers. and Serpula (Pers.) Gray are frequent. They are accompanied by Trichoderma viride, T harzianum, Penicillium expansum, P. funiculosum, Mucor racemosus, M strictus, M hiemalis, Chaetomium globosum, Thamnidium elegans. Serpula lacrymans together with Coniophora puteana, which is also frequent under such conditions, increase the humidity absorbency of brick walls, diminish pH.