The relationship between measured moisture conditions and fungal concentrations in water-damaged building materials

We determined the moisture levels, relative humidity (RH) or moisture content (MC) of materials, and concentrations of culturable fungi, actinomycetes and total spores as well as a composition of fungal flora in 122 building material samples collected from 18 moisture problem buildings. The purpose of this work was to clarify if the is any correlation between the moisture parameters and microbial levels or generic composition depending on the type of materials and the time passed after a water damage. The results showed an agreement between the concentrations of total spores and culturable fungi for the wood, wood-based and gypsum board samples (r > 0.47). The concentrations of total spores and/or culturable fungi correlated with RH of materials particularly among the wood and insulation materials (r > 0.79), but not usually with MC (r < 0.45). For the samples collected from ongoing damage, there was a correlation between RH of materials and the concentrations of total spores and culturable fungi (r > 0.51), while such a relationship could not be observed for the samples taken from dry damage. A wide range of fungal species were found in the samples from ongoing damage, whereas Penicillia and in some cases yeasts dominated the fungal flora in the dry samples. This study indicates that fungal contamination can be evaluated on the basis of moisture measurements of constructions in ongoing damage, but the measurements are not solely adequate for estimation of possible microbial growth in dry damage.     

Determination of fungal spore release from wet building materials

The release and transport of fungal spores from water-damaged building materials is a key factor for understanding the exposure to particles of fungal origin as a possible cause of adverse health effects associated to growth of fungi indoors. In this study, the release of spores from nine species of typical indoor fungi has been measured under controlled conditions. The fungi were cultivated for a period of 4-6 weeks on sterilized wet wallpapered gypsum boards at a relative humidity (RH) of approximately 97%. A specially designed small chamber (P-FLEC) was placed on the gypsum board. The release of fungal spores was induced by well-defined jets of air impacting from rotating nozzles. The spores and other particles released from the surface were transported by the air flowing from the chamber through a top outlet to a particle counter and sizer. For two of the fungi (Penicillium chrysogenum and Trichoderma harzianum), the number of spores produced on the gypsum board and subsequently released was quantified. Also the relationship between air velocities from 0.3 to 3 m/s over the surface and spore release has been measured. The method was found to give very reproducible results for each fungal isolate, whereas the spore release is very different for different fungi under identical conditions. Also, the relationship between air velocity and spore release depends on the fungus. For some fungi a significant number of particles smaller than the spore size were released. The method applied in the study may also be useful for field studies and for generation of spores for exposure studies.     

Susceptibility of green and conventional building materials to microbial growth

Green building materials are becoming more popular. However, little is known about their ability to support or limit microbial growth. The growth of fungi was evaluated on five building materials. Two green, two conventional building materials and wood as a positive control were selected. The materials were inoculated with Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Penicillium brevicompactum, in the absence and presence of house dust. Microbial growth was assessed at four different time points by cultivation and determining fungal biomass using the N‐acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) enzyme assay. No clear differences were seen between green and conventional building materials in their susceptibility to support microbial growth. The presence of dust, an external source of nutrients, promoted growth of all the fungal species similarly on green and conventional materials. The results also showed a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.81 to 0.88 between NAHA activity and culturable counts. The results suggest that the growth of microbes on a material surface depends on the availability of organic matter rather than the classification of the material as green or conventional. NAHA activity and culturability correlated well indicating that the two methods used in the experiments gave similar trends for the growth of fungi on material surfaces.     

Improved coverage of fungal diversity in polluted groundwaters by semi-nested PCR

Traditional methods used for studying communities of aquatic hyphomycetes are based on the detection and identification of their asexual spores under a microscope. These techniques limit detection to aquatic fungi present in sufficient quantity and capable of sporulating under laboratory conditions. Our objective was to develop a molecular approach to detect and monitor all types of fungi (i.e. strictly or facultatively aquatic) in harsh habitats (i.e. groundwater wells and heavily polluted surface water) where fungal biomass may become limited. We developed a semi-nested PCR protocol for fungal 18S ribosomal RNA genes coupled to subsequent analysis of the PCR products by Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TGGE) to monitor the fungal community structure in aquatic habitats characterized by a pollution gradient. Our TGGE-protocol was compared with the traditional morphological approach and revealed a higher diversity in groundwaters and in some polluted surface waters. Thus, PCR-TGGE is a promising alternative in particular in habitats with low fungal biomass. The dynamics of fungal biomass and sporulation rates during the first weeks of leaf colonization showed that habitats with adverse ecological conditions allow only reduced fungal growth, which might subsequently impact upper trophic levels and thus interfere with key ecological processes of leaf decomposition.     

Bacterial and fungal ecology on air conditioning cooling coils is influenced by climate and building factors

The presence of biofilms on the cooling coils of commercial air conditioning (AC) units can significantly reduce the heat transfer efficiency of the coils and may lead to the aerosolization of microbes into occupied spaces of a building. We investigated how climate and AC operation influence the ecology of microbial communities on AC coils. Forty large-scale commercial ACs were considered with representation from warm-humid and hot-dry climates. Both bacterial and fungal ecologies, including richness and taxa, on the cooling coil surfaces were significantly impacted by outdoor climate, through differences in dew point that result in increased moisture (condensate) on coils, and by the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV 8 vs MERV 14) of building air filters. Based on targeted qPCR and sequence analysis, low efficiency upstream filters (MERV 8) were associated with a greater abundance of pathogenic bacteria and medically relevant fungi. As the implementation of air conditioning continues to grow worldwide, better understanding of the factors impacting microbial growth and ecology on cooling coils should enable more rational approaches for biofilm control and ultimately result in reduced energy consumption and healthier buildings.     

Fungal spore source strength tester: laboratory evaluation of a new concept

The airborne fungal spore concentration measured with air samplers during specific time intervals does not always adequately represent the maximum spore concentration levels, because of the sporadic nature of spore release. Hence, a reliable method is needed to directly assess the indoor fungal sources with respect to their spore aerosolization potential. In this study, the newly developed fungal spore source strength tester (FSSST), which aerosolizes spores from growth surfaces and samples the airborne fungi into a bioaerosol sampler, was evaluated in the laboratory. The FSSST's operational flow rates of 30 and 12.5 l/min were tested. The fungal spores released from moldy surfaces were measured with an optical particle counter. Simultaneously, the spores were collected by a bioaerosol sampler: either with a 37-mm filter cassette or with the BioSampler. Three material types, ceiling tile, gypsum board and plastic sheet coated with agar, were tested after they were inoculated with the fungus Aspergillus versicolor. In addition, gypsum board naturally contaminated with various fungi (obtained from a mold-problem home) was tested in the laboratory using the FSSST. In all three laboratory-inoculated materials, the release rate of A. versicolor was found to be higher when the FSSST operated at 30 l/min than at 12.5 l/min. Nevertheless, even at 12.5 l/min the number of spores aerosolized from the source during 10 min was found sufficient to reflect the highest level of release that may occur in indoor environments. At 12.5 l/min, the release rate of A. versicolor during the first 10-min period was (23.9 +/- 17.7)x10(4) cm(-2) for ceiling tile, (1.3 +/- 0.3)x10(4) cm(-2) for gypsum board and (0.13 +/- 0.08)x10(4) cm(-2) for agar surface (based on the samples collected with the BioSampler). The spore release rate was higher during the first 10 min than during the second 10 min of the FSSST application. It was observed that the particles aerosolized from the A. versicolor culture included spore aggregates and single spores, as well as mycelial fragments. Overall, 0.6 +/- 0.3% of spores detected on 1 cm2 of ceiling tile inoculated with A. versicolor were aerosolized during the 10-min source testing. The respective number was 9.2 +/- 1.0% for the laboratory-inoculated gypsum board, 0.002 +/- 0.001% for the laboratory-inoculated plastic covered with agar and 1.8 +/- 0.2% for naturally contaminated gypsum board. Our data suggest that the FSSST provides very favorable conditions for the spore aerosolization and thus can be used in the field to assess the maximum potential spore release from a fungal source.     

Assessment of home environments with a fungal index using hydrophilic and xerophilic fungi as biologic sensors

Previously, the author proposed a 'fungal index' that quantifies the capacity for fungal growth in a test environment where a device (fungal detector) encapsulating spores of a xerophilic sensor fungus Eurotium herbariorum was placed. It was also found that an extremely xerophilic fungus, Aspergillus penicillioides, was suitable as a sensor fungus at sites with lower relative humidity (RH). In this report, the hydrophilic fungus Alternaria alternata was added to sensor fungi for the determination of the index in extremely humid environments. Measurements of the index and observations of the formation of spores by the sensor fungi were made in stable climates in moisture chambers, under natural conditions in homes, and in bathrooms prepared in an artificial climate chamber. Higher index values and earlier sporulation were obtained at higher RH in stable climates. The hydrophilic Alt. alternata showed the greatest response at 100% and 97.3% RH, the moderately xerophilic Eur. herbariorum, at 94%, 84%, and 75% RH, and the extremely xerophilic Asp. penicillioides, at 71% RH. In homes, the hydrophilic fungus was most active in water-usage areas, and the xerophilic fungi were most active in non-water-usage areas. Sporulation was observed on sensor fungi in fungal detectors placed in rooms where the index exceeded 18 ru/week after one-month exposure. Sites where the index exceeded 18 ru/week were referred to as damp, where fungal contamination seems to be unavoidable. Evaluations of ventilation systems in bathrooms with extremely humid climates showed typical examples of a countermeasure to fungal contamination. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The purpose of this study is to establish a fungal index applicable in home environments with extremely high to relatively low relative humidity climates. The sensor fungus that showed the greatest response in a fungal detector (a device encapsulating spores of sensor fungi) served as not only a quantitative but also a qualitative indicator of the environment tested, indicating the type of fungi that would contaminate the site. A fungal index would be a good tool for detecting dampness that induces fungal contamination, which has adverse effects on human health. Evaluations of indoor climates would provide information useful to building owners, builders, designers, advisers, medical practitioners, and so on. Selection of the most suitable insulation systems in various buildings under different climates or evaluations of the drying process in water-damaged buildings could also be possible using fungal detectors and measurements of fungal indices.     

Identification of airborne bacterial and fungal community structures in an urban area by T-RFLP analysis and quantitative real-time PCR

This study explores the characteristics of bacterial and fungal communities of total suspended particles (TSP) in the atmosphere by using various molecular methods. TSP samples were collected on a glass fiber filter at an urban location in the middle of the Korean Peninsula (Seoul) between middle autumn and early winter in 2007. From the aerosol samples, DNA could be extracted and DNA sequences were determined for bacteria and fungi. Terminal restriction length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis was applied to analyze the community structure of them. To estimate the concentration of DNA originating from bacterial and fungal communities, we used the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). Sequence analyses were also used to determine the identity of biological organisms. The number of bacteria and fungi in the air were between 5.19 × 10¹ and 4.31 × 10³ cells m^− 3 and from 9.56 × 10¹ to 4.22 × 10⁴ cells m^− 3, respectively and bacterium/fungus ratios ranged from 0.09 to 0.76 across the seven sampling dates. Most of the bacterial sequences found in our TSP samples were from Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The fungal sequences were characteristic for Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Glomeromycota which are known to actively discharge spores into the atmosphere. The plant sequences could be also detected. We found that large shifts in the community structure of bacteria and fungi were present in our TSP samples collected on different dates. The results demonstrated that in our TSP samples collected at the urban site; (1) there were very diverse bacterial and fungal groups including potential pathogens and allergens and (2) there were temporal shifts in both bacterial and fungal communities in terms of both diversity and abundances across an inter-seasonal period.     

Volatile metabolites of Serpula lacrymans,Coniophora puteana,Poria placenta,Stachybotrys chartarum and Chaetomium globosum

Volatile emissions from the cultures of three decay fungi on aspen and two soft rot fungi on gypsum board were investigated at 97–99% relative humidity of air. Air samples from the incubation chambers were adsorbed on Tenax TA tubes and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine cartridges, and analyzed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography and HPLC, respectively. The composition of volatile metabolites varied significantly between the fungal species studied. Emissions of the brown rot fungi included pinenes, acrolein and few ketones. On the other hand, the production of alcohols from brown rot fungal cultures on aspen was poor during the 6–10 weeks of growth. The soft rot fungi emitted mostly ketones and alcohols. A significant ability of fungal growth to decrease aldehyde emissions was also observed.     

Microbiological Events After a Fire in a High-rise Building

Water used to control a fire on an upper floor in a highrise office building wetted furnishings and construction materials on lower floors and resulted in the amplification of microorganisms especially mesophilic and thermotolerant fungi. Concentrations of fungi in indoor air including Aspergillus, Penicillium and Paecilomyces approached or exceeded 10⁴ colony forming units per cubic meter (cfu/m³). Airborne endotoxin levels increased about 1 order of magnitude over background levels. Sampling for fungi using both culture plate impactors and spore traps showed that spores were migrating from water damaged to undamaged areas in the office complex. Elevator shafts traversing water damaged floors likely provided the major dispersion pathway of spores into occupied areas. Construction materials such as plaster ceilings that had been wetted during the fire but were free of visual fungal contamination were found to be strong fungal reservoirs after the building had thoroughly dried. Management of microbial contaminants after a fire in a highrise building is an important public health concern and therefore an essential aspect of building restoration.     

Determination of microbial colonisation in water-damaged buildings using chemical marker analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the microbial contents of building materials subjected to water damage in a laboratory experiment and of materials collected from houses affected by water during the flood in Klodzko in south-western Poland, July 1997. The samples were examined for 3-hydroxy fatty acids, markers of bacterial endotoxin, and ergosterol, marker of fungal biomass. The amounts of both 3-hydroxy fatty acids and ergosterol were higher in materials that had been exposed to water than in unexposed ones. All markers were stable in the building materials for at least 6 weeks at room temperature and could thus be used to reveal microbial contamination even when cultivation results for bacteria and fungi were negative. Direct measurement of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and ergosterol in human environments could be a useful method, e.g. in monitoring indoor air as regards presence of potentially harmful microorganisms and microbial constituents.     

Pine forest and grassland differently influence the response of soil microbial communities to metal contamination

Metal pollution can affect soil microbial communities, and vegetation potentially influences this relationship. It can, for example, modify the toxicity of metal to soil microbes by controlling its input to the ground or by altering soil physicochemical properties. This study examined metal effects on soil respiration, potentially active microbial biomass (SIR) and catabolic abilities of culturable heterotrophic bacterial communities (Biolog GN) in pine forest and grassland ecosystems developed on soils contaminated with Zn, Pb and Cd. In samples from non-forested areas we found that metal pollution reduced the microbial biomass and functional diversity of bacteria, while increasing the metabolic quotient. In samples from pine forests we found no relationship between metal pollution and microbial parameters. Metals induced changes in soil respiration neither in forest nor in grassland sites. Generally, microbial performance was determined predominantly by soil physicochemical properties (nutrient content, acidity, contamination level). Vegetation type seemed a minor but important factor influencing microbial communities. More work is needed to determine why even relatively high metal concentrations do not significantly affect microbial communities in forest soils.     

Effect of relative humidity on the aerosolization and total inflammatory potential of fungal particles from dust‐inoculated gypsum boards

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of relative humidity (RH) on the aerosolization and total inflammatory potential (TIP) of microbial particles released from gypsum boards inoculated with dust samples from homes. After microbial colonization, the gypsum boards were incubated at either high or low RH. The aerosolized particles (0.54–19.8 μm), culturable fungi, β‐glucan and the TIP of the aerosolized particles were quantified. Despite the colonization of several fungal groups, Penicillium dominated the aerosolized fraction. Higher emission rates of particles and culturable fungi were found from low RH compared with high RH in both the inhalable and particulate matter <1 μm (PM₁) fractions, and the TIP was accordingly higher. However, for the aerosolized fractions, the TIP or concentration β‐glucan relative to the number of fungi or particles present was higher from high RH compared with low RH. Despite the low number of culturable fungi in PM₁, this fraction showed a high TIP, and the concentration of β‐glucan correlated strongly with the TIP of this fraction. The individual particles of the aerosolized PM₁ fraction were more inflammatory than the larger particles of the inhalable fraction, and β‐glucan may be an important contributor to the inflammatory potential of the aerosolized particles.     

Assessment of airborne bacteria and fungi in food courts

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of variations in temperature, relative humidity, occupancy density and location (indoor/outdoor) on the concentrations of viable airborne bacterial and fungal spores at an air-conditioned and a non air-conditioned food stall in Singapore. Typically, bioaerosols consisted of 50.5% bacteria and 49.5% fungi in the indoor environment. In contrast, for the outdoor environment, bacteria on an average only accounted for 20.6% of culturable airborne microorganisms whereas fungal concentrations were 79.4%. Results on bioaerosol size distributions revealed that 67% of indoor bacteria and 68% of outdoor bacteria, 85% of indoor fungi and 68% of outdoor fungi were associated with fine mode particulates (<3.3 μm). Occupant density was the key factor that affected indoor airborne bacteria concentrations while concentrations of outdoor airborne bacteria depended strongly on ambient temperature. Indoor fungal concentration was positively correlated to relative humidity whereas outdoor fungal concentration was positively correlated to relative humidity and negatively correlated to temperature. The study also compared the biological air quality between a non air-conditioned food stall (Stall A) and an air-conditioned food stall (Stall B). The dining area of the former had lower bacterial concentrations as compared to the latter, while fungal spore’s concentrations showed a reverse trend. The dominant airborne bacteria genera were Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Alcaligens, and Corynebacterium whereas Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium were the most common fungal genera and groups in both food stalls.     

Fungal and bacterial growth in floor dust at elevated relative humidity levels

Under sustained, elevated building moisture conditions, bacterial and fungal growth occurs. The goal of this study was to characterize microbial growth in floor dust at variable equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) levels. Floor dust from one home was embedded in coupons cut from a worn medium‐pile nylon carpet and incubated at 50%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, and 100% ERH levels. Quantitative PCR and DNA sequencing of ribosomal DNA for bacteria and fungi were used to quantify growth and community shifts. Over a 1‐wk period, fungal growth occurred above 80% ERH. Growth rates at 85% and 100% ERH were 1.1 × 10⁴ and 1.5 × 10⁵ spore equivalents d^?1 mg dust^?1, respectively. Bacterial growth occurred only at 100% ERH after 1 wk (9.0 × 10⁴ genomes d^?1 mg dust^?1). Growth resulted in significant changes in fungal (P<.00001) and bacterial community structure (P<.00001) at varying ERH levels. Comparisons between fungal taxa incubated at different ERH levels revealed more than 100 fungal and bacterial species that were attributable to elevated ERH. Resuspension modeling indicated that more than 50% of airborne microbes could originate from the resuspension of fungi grown at ERH levels of 85% and above.     

Biodeterioration of sandstone under the influence of different humidity levels in laboratory conditions

Excessive moisture in building materials supports microbial growth. It has been referred that relative humidity more than 55% promotes the microbial growth. To test the effect of different relative humidity tropical chamber test was set up at 52%, 76%, 85% and 96% RH and maximum diversity of fungi was found at 85% and 96% RH. Two fungi Aspergillus sydowi and Aspergillus flavipes were present throughout the course of study from moderate to highly abundant form. It was observed that Fusarium moniliforme, Cephalosporium acremonium, Papulospora sp. proliferated at higher relative humidity (i.e. at 85% and 96.6% RH) and Fusarium roseum, Fusarium oxysporum only at 96% RH level. The relative humidity level lower than 62%, i.e. at 52% level exhibited no fungal growth on sandstone surface during two-year observations. During the study pattern it was noticed that diversity decreased gradually and dominance of particular species increased with the time factor. Analysis of sandstone after fungal colonization by X-ray diffraction and SEM showed the formation of newly formed biomineral.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant biomass and the rhizosphere microbial community structure of mesquite grown in acidic lead/zinc mine tailings

Mine tailings in arid and semi-arid environments are barren of vegetation and subject to eolian dispersion and water erosion. Revegetation is a cost-effective strategy to reduce erosion processes and has wide public acceptance. A major cost of revegetation is the addition of amendments, such as compost, to allow plant establishment. In this paper we explore whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can help support plant growth in tailings at a reduced compost concentration. A greenhouse experiment was performed to determine the effects of three AMF inocula on biomass, shoot accumulation of heavy metals, and changes in the rhizosphere microbial community structure of the native plant Prosopis juliflora (mesquite). Plants were grown in an acidic lead/zinc mine tailings amended with 10% (w/w) compost amendment, which is slightly sub-optimal for plant growth in these tailings. After two months, AMF-inoculated plants showed increased dry biomass and root length (p < 0.05) and effective AMF colonization compared to controls grown in uninoculated compost-amended tailings. Mesquite shoot tissue lead and zinc concentrations did not exceed domestic animal toxicity limits regardless of whether AMF inoculation was used. The rhizosphere microbial community structure was assessed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles of the small subunit RNA gene for bacteria and fungi. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of DGGE profiles showed that the rhizosphere fungal community structure at the end of the experiment was significantly different from the community structure in the tailings, compost, and AMF inocula prior to planting. Further, CCA showed that AMF inoculation significantly influenced the development of both the fungal and bacterial rhizosphere community structures after two months. The changes observed in the rhizosphere microbial community structure may be either a direct effect of the AMF inocula, caused by changes in plant physiology induced by AMF, or a combination of both mechanisms.     

Microbial community functional structure in response to antibiotics in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment systems

It is widely demonstrated that antibiotics in the environment affect microbial community structure. However, direct evidence regarding the impacts of antibiotics on microbial functional structures in wastewater treatment systems is limited. Herein, a high-throughput functional gene array (GeoChip 3.0) in combination with quantitative PCR and clone libraries were used to evaluate the microbial functional structures in two biological wastewater treatment systems, which treat antibiotic production wastewater mainly containing oxytetracycline. Despite the bacteriostatic effects of antibiotics, the GeoChip detected almost all key functional gene categories, including carbon cycling, nitrogen cycling, etc., suggesting that these microbial communities were functionally diverse. Totally 749 carbon-degrading genes belonging to 40 groups (24 from bacteria and 16 from fungi) were detected. The abundance of several fungal carbon-degrading genes (e.g., glyoxal oxidase (glx), lignin peroxidase or ligninase (lip), manganese peroxidase (mnp), endochitinase, exoglucanase_genes) was significantly correlated with antibiotic concentrations (Mantel test; P < 0.05), showing that the fungal functional genes have been enhanced by the presence of antibiotics. However, from the fact that the majority of carbon-degrading genes were derived from bacteria and diverse antibiotic resistance genes were detected in bacteria, it was assumed that many bacteria could survive in the environment by acquiring antibiotic resistance and may have maintained the position as a main player in nutrient removal. Variance partitioning analysis showed that antibiotics could explain 24.4% of variations in microbial functional structure of the treatment systems. This study provides insights into the impacts of antibiotics on microbial functional structure of a unique system receiving antibiotic production wastewater, and reveals the potential importance of the cooperation between fungi and bacteria with antibiotic resistance in maintaining the stability and performance of the systems.     

Microbial biomass, activity and community composition in constructed wetlands

The aim of the current article is to give an overview about microbial communities and their functioning but also about factors affecting microbial activity in the three most common types (surface flow and two types of sub-surface flow) of constructed wetlands. The paper reviews the community composition and structural diversity of the microbial biomass, analyzing different aspects of microbial activity with respect to wastewater properties, specific wetland type, and environmental parameters. A brief introduction about the application of different novel molecular techniques for the assessment of microbial communities in constructed wetlands is also given. Microbially mediated processes in constructed wetlands are mainly dependent on hydraulic conditions, wastewater properties, including substrate and nutrient quality and availability, filter material or soil type, plants, and different environmental factors. Microbial biomass is within similar ranges in both horizontal and vertical subsurface flow and surface flow constructed wetlands. Stratification of the biomass but also a stratified structural pattern of the bacterial community can be seen in subsurface flow systems. Microbial biomass C/N ratio is higher in horizontal flow systems compared to vertical flow systems, indicating the structural differences in microbial communities between those two constructed wetland types. The total activity of the microbial community is in the same range, but heterotrophic growth is higher in the subsurface (vertical flow) system compared to the surface flow systems. Available species-specific data about microbial communities in different types of wetlands is scarce and therefore it is impossible make any general conclusions about the dynamics of microbial community structure in wetlands, its relationship to removal processes and operational parameters.