Fungi on fuel wood chips in a home

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Wood Fiber; (United States)

OSTI ID:5048930

Miller, J D; Schneider, M H; Whitney, N J

Softwood tops and branch fuel chips with high moisture contents were subject to biological heating in storage. This was due primarily to infestations of mesophilic (ca. 5 X 10 to the power of 4 propagules/g dry weight wood) and thermophilic (ca. 1.6 X 10 to the power of 6 propagules/g dry weight wood) fungi. Loading chips into a home fuel-chip furnace resulted in the distribution of fungal propagules throughout the basement and upper floors. Many of the species isolated are human allergens and pathogens. The results suggest that dry storage of chips (that is, environmental conditions which do not allow fungal growth) is important to avoid propagation of allergenic and pathogenic fungi. They also suggest that chips which have been subject to biological heating should not be transported into a home without precautions. Individuals handling chips should wear dust masks, and take other measures to avoid prolonged contact and contamination of living quarters. (Refs. 10).

• Research Organization: Univ New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 6E1
• OSTI ID: 5048930
• Journal Information: Wood Fiber; (United States), Journal Name: Wood Fiber; (United States) Vol. 14:1; ISSN WOOFA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
550700 -- Microbiology
570000 -- Health & Safety
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
ALLERGY
APPLIANCES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BUILDINGS
FOREST LITTER
FUNGI
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MATERIALS
MESOPHILIC CONDITIONS
MOISTURE
PATHOGENS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLID WASTES
STORAGE
THERMOPHILIC CONDITIONS
WASTES
WOOD
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES
WOOD WASTES