Exposure and Health Effects of Fungi on Humans

Abstract

Fungi are ubiquitous microorganisms that are present in outdoor and indoor environments. Previous research has found relationships between environmental fungal exposures and human health effects. We reviewed recent articles focused on fungal exposure and dampness as risk factors for respiratory disease development, symptoms and hypersensitivity. In particular, we reviewed the evidence suggesting that early exposure to dampness or fungi is associated with development of asthma and increased asthma morbidity. While outdoor exposure to high concentrations of spores can cause health effects such as asthma attacks in association with thunderstorms, most people appear to be relatively unaffected unless they are sensitized to specific genera. Indoor exposure and dampness, on the other hand, appears to be associated with increased risk of developing asthma in young children and asthma morbidity in individuals who have asthma. These are important issues because they provide a rationale for interventions that might be considered for homes and buildings in which there is increased fungal exposure. In addition to rhinitis and asthma, fungus exposure is associated with a number of other illnesses including allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses, allergic fungal sinusitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Additional research is necessary to establish causality and evaluate interventions for fungal and dampness-related health effects.

Characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from Air and Surfaces of the International Space Station

“…The most commonly sampled fungal genera from space environments include the terrestrially ubiquitous sporulating molds Cladosporium , Penicillium , and Aspergillus . Airborne spores, also known as conidia, are ubiquitous in terrestrial environments and can exacerbate pulmonary allergic reactions (14) and cause life-threatening invasive infections after germinating in immunocompromised individuals (15, 16). Among airborne fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus is the most frequently encountered agent of pulmonary complications and invasive infections, as infections can result in invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised populations, with average mortality rates of 50% even with proper diagnosis and treatment (17).…”

Biological Risks from Long-Term Storage of Wood Chips

“…4. Occurrence of fungi spores depending on air temperature and precipitation people [40]. Alternaria alternata is capable of producing tenuazonic acid and other toxic metabolites that may be associated with disease in humans or animals [41].…”

Bedroom Allergen Exposure Beyond House Dust Mites

“…Asthma, especially persistence and severity, has often been linked with sensitization to outdoor fungal species, such as Alternaria and Cladosporium [159], but an increasing body of literature supports the link between indoor fungal exposures and asthma [142, 158, 163, 164•, 165]. In numerous studies, residential fungal exposures have been associated with asthma exacerbations and severity [142, 158, 163, 164•, 166, 167].…”

“…In numerous studies, residential fungal exposures have been associated with asthma exacerbations and severity [142, 158, 163, 164•, 166, 167]. Although most of the asthma-related studies have been case-control studies or cross-sectional in nature, supporting data has also emerged from birth cohort studies [142, 158, 164•, 168–170].…”