• Project number: F 2491
• Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
• Status: Completed Project

Description:

Gaseous substances produced by bacteria and molds, known as microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs), can irritate the respiratory tract or trigger inflammation at many workplaces. Some of these compounds have beneficial properties, for example as biopesticides or signaling molecules. Others are suspected of damaging human cells.

This BAuA project aimed to establish a basis for improved occupational safety by investigating the health effects of mVOCs. The topic is particularly relevant in damp buildings, waste management, food production, and the processing of biological materials. There is currently no formal standardisation of testing and evaluation methods for mVOCs, but the methods developed in the project can serve as a basis for future standardization processes. The international state of research on this topic has been summarized in two publications (see below).

In addition, a technical platform was developed in the form of a two-chamber exposure system. This enables cultivation of mVOC-forming biological substances, directly linked to subsequent analysis on lung cells under defined conditions. Complementing this, an open-source software was developed for the automatic evaluation of high-speed videos: it measures the beating of cilia on lung cells, which are essential for clearing the airways. The review articles show that research on mVOCs is expanding rapidly, especially through biotechnological applications such as sustainable materials and biofungicides. However, questions regarding toxic effects and occupational safety remain unanswered. The developed system and software now enable targeted long-term testing under laboratory condi-tions and can serve as a basis for further studies.