Biological contaminants include viable and non-viable
microbiological matter such as viruses, bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, house dust mite and insect feces and pollens. Their
presence can result in infectious disease, toxics effects or
allergic reaction. Much is known about the occurrence and health
effects of microbial growth associated with water damage but
there has been little investigation on the impact of other
microbial contaminants on indoor air quality. 1.1 Infectious
contaminants While all types of microorganisms can cause
problems indoors, bacteria and fungi are most commonly
associated with indoor air quality complaints. In any indoor
environment a variety of species will be present at different
times and in different micro-environments. In order for airborne
disease transmission to occur from microbes in buildings, there
must be a source or reservoir for the microbes, some means for
the microbes to multiply (amplifiers) and a mechanism for their
release and dispersion into indoor air. The major ind