Hempcrete as a substrate for fungal growth under high humidity and variable temperature conditions

Chau, K; Fleck, R; Irga, PJ; Torpy, FR; Wilkinson, SJ; Castel, A

Hempcrete as a substrate for fungal growth under high humidity and variable temperature conditions

Chau, K Fleck, R

Irga, PJ Torpy, FR Wilkinson, SJ Castel, A

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 398
Issue Date:: 2023-09-22

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chau, K
dc.contributor.author	Fleck, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2045-1656
dc.contributor.author	Irga, PJ
dc.contributor.author	Torpy, FR
dc.contributor.author	Wilkinson, SJ
dc.contributor.author	Castel, A
dc.date.accessioned	2023-10-11T13:25:33Z
dc.date.available	2023-10-11T13:25:33Z
dc.date.issued	2023-09-22
dc.identifier.citation	Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 398
dc.identifier.issn	0950-0618
dc.identifier.issn	1879-0526
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172635
dc.description.abstract	Bio-based alternatives for existing construction materials can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Hempcrete is one of these materials and is both an excellent hygric/thermal regulator and is carbon negative. However, this novel material is still incompletely researched, especially its fungal growth potential specifically within warm and humid environments. The incorporation of significant biological material within hempcrete can enable it to act as a microbial growth medium, with the corresponding potential for the release of bioaerosols. The aim of this research was thus to investigate the overall practicality of hempcrete implementation in a humid climate. To achieve this, the endogenous fungal genera on a sample of hempcrete were identified, fungal propagules aerosolized from a hempcrete sample enumerated, and a range of temperatures tested to determine their effect on fungi growth determined. Trials were performed to determine whether hempcrete can be effectively decontaminated with common materials to manage microbial growth. Under high humidity, fungal propagule emissions were high with low diversity, with potentially allergenic fungi detected. Disinfection of high fungal load hempcrete samples was able to reduce ∼94% of the fungal observations and reduce aerosolized counts to average background tropical fungal counts. The range of temperatures tested were not found to effect fungal growth, contrary to the consensus of the literature. Overall, these properties make hempcrete suited to humid areas, however, further research to investigate the potential effects of fungi on the material remains lacking.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP200200779
dc.relation.ispartof	Construction and Building Materials
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132373
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0905 Civil Engineering, 1202 Building
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction
dc.subject.classification	3302 Building
dc.subject.classification	4005 Civil engineering
dc.subject.classification	4016 Materials engineering
dc.title	Hempcrete as a substrate for fungal growth under high humidity and variable temperature conditions
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	398
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	1202 Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCDP - Contemporary Design Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-10-11T13:25:29Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	398

Abstract:

Bio-based alternatives for existing construction materials can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Hempcrete is one of these materials and is both an excellent hygric/thermal regulator and is carbon negative. However, this novel material is still incompletely researched, especially its fungal growth potential specifically within warm and humid environments. The incorporation of significant biological material within hempcrete can enable it to act as a microbial growth medium, with the corresponding potential for the release of bioaerosols. The aim of this research was thus to investigate the overall practicality of hempcrete implementation in a humid climate. To achieve this, the endogenous fungal genera on a sample of hempcrete were identified, fungal propagules aerosolized from a hempcrete sample enumerated, and a range of temperatures tested to determine their effect on fungi growth determined. Trials were performed to determine whether hempcrete can be effectively decontaminated with common materials to manage microbial growth. Under high humidity, fungal propagule emissions were high with low diversity, with potentially allergenic fungi detected. Disinfection of high fungal load hempcrete samples was able to reduce ∼94% of the fungal observations and reduce aerosolized counts to average background tropical fungal counts. The range of temperatures tested were not found to effect fungal growth, contrary to the consensus of the literature. Overall, these properties make hempcrete suited to humid areas, however, further research to investigate the potential effects of fungi on the material remains lacking.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172635