Assessment of Bioaerosol Concentrations in Different Indoor Environments

Zorman, Tina; Jeršek, Barbara

doi:10.1177/1420326x08089251

Cited by 49 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…inhibition in the air samples caused by other species because of different growth rates [35,36]. We also observed that pig farms, poultry farms and WWTP presented significant differences in terms of the number of species isolated in the air and in the surface samples, in comparison with cork industries.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 48%

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Viegas¹,

Faria²,

Meneses³

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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Objectives: Mycological contamination of occupational environments can be a result of fungal spores' dispersion in the air and on surfaces. Therefore, it is very important to assess it in both types of the samples. In the present study we assessed fungal contamination in the air and in the surface samples to show relevance of surfaces sampling in complementing the results obtained in the air samples. Material and Methods: In total, 42 settings were assessed by the analysis of air and surfaces samples. The settings were divided into settings with a high fungal load (7 poultry farms and 7 pig farms, 3 cork industries, 3 waste management plants, 2 wastewater treatment plants and 1 horse stable) and a low fungal load (10 hospital canteens, 8 college canteens and 1 maternity hospital). In addition to culture-based methods, molecular tools were also applied to detect fungal burden in the settings with a higher fungal load. Results: From the 218 sampling sites, 140 (64.2%) presented different species in the examined surfaces when compared with the species identified in the air. A positive association in the high fungal load settings was found between the presence of different species in the air and surfaces. Wastewater treatment plants constituted the setting with the highest number of different species between the air and surface. Conclusions: We observed that surfaces sampling and application of molecular tools showed the same efficacy of species detection in high fungal load settings, corroborating the fact that surface sampling is crucial for a correct and complete analysis of occupational scenarios.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 48%

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Viegas¹,

Faria²,

Meneses³

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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“…Similarly, the most commonly reported fungal species in indoor environments are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium (Zorman and Jeršek 2008;Bernasconi et al, 2010). Exposure to indoor fungi such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium can exacerbate symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis in susceptible individuals (Portnoy et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Airborne Particles in Indoor Environments: Applicability of Particle Counting for Prediction of Bioaerosol Concentrations

Mirhoseini

Nikaeen

Satoh

et al. 2016

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Indoor bioaerosols have recently received considerable interest because of their impact on health. In this study, concentrations of bioaerosols in relation to airborne particulate matter in various indoor environments were investigated. The comparative performance of two common biosamplers, including the single-stage Andersen impactor and the all-glass impinger (AGI) for bioaerosol sampling, was also evaluated. The average levels of airborne bacteria and fungi sampled by Andersen were 516 and 176 colony forming units (CFU) m -3 and by AGI were 163 and 151 CFU m -3 , respectively. The highest bacterial levels were measured in residence apartments. The most predominant bacteria were belonged to Staphylococcus sp. and Arthrobacter sp. The Andersen impactor appeared to yield fungal concentrations that were comparable to the results obtained using the AGI biosampler. Meanwhile, Andersen impactor counts for bacteria were significantly higher than those obtained by AGI. Particle count data generated by the optical particle counter indicated that 95% of airborne particles were < 1 µm in diameter. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between particle counts of PM 1 and concentrations of culturable airborne bacteria measured with the both bioaerosol samplers.Based on these results, the Andersen impactor performed much better than the AGI for sampling airborne bioaerosols in low-contaminated indoor environments. Accurate measurement of microbial concentrations in indoor environments should be performed by bioaerosol monitoring; however, combining particle counting with bioaerosol sampling could provide prompt information about rapid variations of air quality.

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“…Fungi -Fungal strains which are proportionally of importance in indoor air samples are comprised of the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium [121][122][123][124][125][126]. All fungal strains are able to form spores which are resistant to changing environmental conditions.…”

Section: Composition Of Bioaerosolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaerosols in Indoor Environment - A Review with Special Reference to Residential and Occupational Locations

Brandl¹

2011

TOEBMJ

177

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Bioaerosols such as bacterial and fungal cells and their spores are -along with non-biological particles -part of indoor airborne particulate matter and have been related since a long time to health issues of human beings as well as flora, and fauna. To identify the different risks and to establish exposure thresholds, microbiology of air samples from a series of indoor environments must be characterized, i.e. the different microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) must be identified and quantified. This review discusses the techniques of air sampling and sample analysis. In addition, a literature study has been performed regarding the levels of these microorganisms in various indoor occupational (e.g., schools, offices, hospitals, museums) and dwelling environments. These results will provide a significant scientific basis for indoor air quality control and help in elaborating risk prevention programs for workers and dwellers. This review shall contribute to the knowledge of identification and quantification of airborne microbial constituents in various indoor environments. Combining the indoor microbial load data with data from studies focusing on health effects caused by inhalation of specific airborne microorganisms will allow the evaluation of various risks to which inhabitants are exposed. Bioaerosols in Indoor Environment -A Review with Special Reference to Residential and Occupational LocationsJyotshna Mandal and Helmut Brandl* Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, SwitzerlandAbstract: Bioaerosols such as bacterial and fungal cells and their spores are -along with non-biological particles -part of indoor airborne particulate matter and have been related since a long time to health issues of human beings as well as flora, and fauna. To identify the different risks and to establish exposure thresholds, microbiology of air samples from a series of indoor environments must be characterized, i.e. the different microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) must be identified and quantified. This review discusses the techniques of air sampling and sample analysis. In addition, a literature study has been performed regarding the levels of these microorganisms in various indoor occupational (e.g., schools, offices, hospitals, museums) and dwelling environments. These results will provide a significant scientific basis for indoor air quality control and help in elaborating risk prevention programs for workers and dwellers. This review shall contribute to the knowledge of identification and quantification of airborne microbial constituents in various indoor environments. Combining the indoor microbial load data with data from studies focusing on health effects caused by inhalation of specific airborne microorganisms will allow the evaluation of various risks to which inhabitants are exposed.

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Assessment of Bioaerosol Concentrations in Different Indoor Environments

Cited by 49 publications

References 36 publications

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Assessment of Airborne Particles in Indoor Environments: Applicability of Particle Counting for Prediction of Bioaerosol Concentrations

Bioaerosols in Indoor Environment - A Review with Special Reference to Residential and Occupational Locations

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