We dedicate today to one of the most precious resources on our planet: water. Every year, World Water Day is held on March 22 to draw attention to the importance of clean water. In order to do justice to the great importance of water, the GBA Group now has its own Water Business Unit, which deals with the topic of water throughout Germany and across all central laboratories.

On March 24, Dr. Oliver Röhl, Department Head of Microbiology at GBA GROUP and M. Sc. Sarah Henze, Team Leader "Expertises for Indoor Hygiene" will participate in the mold conference in Berlin and will also be present with a booth in the atrium of the Mercure Hotel (MOA Berlin).

Molds often grow covertly and as a result of prolonged elevated moisture levels in the affected material. In order to trace the exact cause of mold damage, the molds present must be determined at the species and genus level. This requires a material suspension and examination of the culturable molds.

Molds can be a visual, olfactory but also hygienic problem. Especially for sensitive persons (e.g. allergic persons), extensive and exposed mold damage can lead to allergic reactions or sensitizing effects. Molds can indicate increased humidity and can occur on many different materials (e.g. wallpaper, plasterboard walls, wooden beams, etc.).

In case of increased humidity, wood-destroying fungi can easily form, which can massively influence the stability of the wood and thus the statics of relevant building components. In particular, the detection of true dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is of particular interest, as many building insurers and waste disposal companies have region-specific regulations for remediation and disposal.