Increased prevalence of indoor <i>Aspergillus</i> and <i>Penicillium</i> species is associated with indoor flooding and coastal proximity: a case study of 28 moldy buildings

Omebeyinje, Mayomi H.; Adeluyi, Adewale; Mitra, Chandrani; Chakraborty, Paramita; Gandee, Gregory M; Patel, Nalit; Verghese, Bindhu; Farrance, Christine E.; Hull, Matthew S.; Basu, Paramita; Lee, Kwonmoo; Adhikari, Atin; Adıvar, Burcu; Horney, Jennifer A.; Chanda, Anindya

doi:10.1039/d1em00202c

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Alternaria , Cladosporium , and Leptosphaerulina ( Pithomyces ) are common outdoor fungi; thus, they may have originated and been transmitted from outdoor to indoor environments. Interestingly, in our metataxonomic analyses, the abundance of Penicillium was found to be low, which is contrary to several previous reports showing Penicillium as one of the most abundant airborne fungal genera in the indoor air of moldy homes [ 9 , 53 , 74 , 75 ]. However, our qPCR assays detected Penicillium brevicompactum in the ground and air vent samples from at least one moldy home, while air vent samples from two moldy homes yielded positive results for Penicillium citrinum .…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…The limitations of the present study may include a lack of statistical power as we only sampled from a total of twenty homes. Nonetheless, there are reports of similar studies with a limited sample size (such as n = 28 homes) [ 75 ]. A larger sample size (home samples) and repeated sample collections might be valuable to establish a significant correlation between fungi status and indoor environments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Burden in “Moldy” versus “Non-Moldy” Homes: A Case Study Employing Advanced Sequencing Techniques in a US Metropolitan Area

Chauhan,

Higgins Jones,

Banerjee

et al. 2023

Pathogens

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The presence of fungi in the indoor environment is associated with allergies and other respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to use sequencing and molecular methods, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches, to explore the bacterial and fungal communities and their abundance in the indoor environment of houses (n = 20) with visible “moldy” (HVM) and nonvisible “non-moldy” (HNM) in Memphis, TN, USA. Dust samples were collected from air vents and ground surfaces, and the total DNA was analyzed for bacteria and fungi by amplifying 16S rRNA and ITS genes on the Illumina Miseq. Results indicated that Leptosphaerulina was the most abundant fungal genus present in the air vent and ground samples from HNM and HVM. At the same time, the most abundant bacterial genera in the air vent and ground samples were Propionibacterium and Streptococcus. The fungi community diversity was significantly different in the air vent samples. The abundance of fungal species known to be associated with respiratory diseases in indoor dust samples was similar, regardless of the visibility of fungi in the houses. The existence of fungi associated with respiratory symptoms was compared with several parameters like dust particulate matter (PM), CO2 level, temperature, and humidity. Most of these parameters are either positively or negatively correlated with the existence of fungi associated with respiratory diseases; however, none of these correlations were significant at p = 0.05. Our results indicate that implementing molecular methods for detecting indoor fungi may strengthen common exposure and risk assessment practices.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Burden in “Moldy” versus “Non-Moldy” Homes: A Case Study Employing Advanced Sequencing Techniques in a US Metropolitan Area

Chauhan,

Higgins Jones,

Banerjee

et al. 2023

Pathogens

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“…was observed in buildings with previous flooding histories. In the indoor environment, flooding history was found to be the strongest determinant of the prevalence of the above-mentioned genera [16]. In line with our results, Baldrian [41] reports that higher rates of spore germination of Penicillium chrysogenum (P. section Chrysogena) were associated with a high level of water activity, but pH did not have a significant effect [42].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…High (>0.90) water activity can be found in building materials if they have been affected by flooding [12]. Mold problems caused by extensive floodings were studied by different authors [9,[13][14][15][16][17][18], especially after the hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Maria [19][20][21][22][23]. These floodings, however, did not contain chemical pollutants at such high concentrations [24] as industrial sludges like red mud.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Indoor Molds after Ajka Red Mud Spill, Hungary

Magyar,

Tischner,

Szabó

et al. 2023

Pathogens

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A red mud suspension of ~700,000 m3 was accidentally released from the alumina plant in Ajka, Hungary, on the 4th of October 2010, flooding several buildings in the nearby towns. As there is no information in the literature on the effects of red mud on indoor mold growth, we conducted studies to answer the following question: does the heavy metal content of red mud inhibit fungal colonization in flooded houses? In order to gain knowledge on fungal spectra colonizing surfaces soaked with red mud and on the ability of fungi to grow on them, swabs, tape lifts, and air samples were collected from three case study buildings. A total of 43 fungal taxa were detected. The dominant species were Penicillium spp. on plaster/brick walls, but Aspergillus series Versicolores, Cladosporium, Acremonium, and Scopulariopsis spp. were also present. The level of airborne penicillia was high in all indoor samples. Selected fungal strains were subcultured on 2% MEA with 10−1 and 10−4 dilutions of red mud. The growth rate of most of the strains was not significantly reduced by red mud on the artificial media. The consequences of similar industrial flooding on indoor molds are also discussed in this paper.

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“…Indoor dampness resulting in mould-affected housing was previously estimated to affect 10-50% of dwellings in Australia, Europe, North America, India and Japan [1] with an increase in prevalence when located close to bodies of water, coastal areas or previously flood-affected locations [2]. Mould-affected housing is reported in both developed and developing countries, urban and rural locations, and across all housing types and climate zones.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Impacts Related to Mould-Affected Housing: An Australian Integrative Review

Coulburn

Miller

2022

IJERPH

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In response to an Australian governmental inquiry into biotoxin-related illness, the purpose of this integrative review is to bring together the current state of evidence on the prevalence, risk factors and impacts related to mould-affected housing in an Australian context, in order to inform building, housing and health research, practice and policy. The robust integrative review methodology simultaneously sought quantitative and qualitative studies and grey literature from multiple disciplines, identifying only 45 studies directly relating to Australian housing and indoor mould. Twenty-one studies highlight negative health impacts relating to indoor residential mould, with asthma, respiratory, allergy conditions and emerging health concerns for chronic multiple-symptom presentation. The majority of studies reported risk factors for indoor mould including poor housing conditions, poor-quality rental accommodation, socioeconomic circumstance, age-related housing issues and concerns for surface/interstitial condensation and building defects in newer housing. Risks for indoor mould in both older and newer housing raise concerns for the extent of the problem of indoor mould in Australia. Understanding the national prevalence of housing risks and “root cause” associated with indoor mould is not conclusive from the limited existing evidence. Synthesis of this evidence reveals a lack of coverage on: (1) national and geographical representation, (2) climatical coverage, (3) housing typologies, (4) housing defects, (5) maintenance, (6) impact from urbanisation, and (7) occupant’s behaviour. This integrative review was key in identifying emerging housing and health concerns, highlighting gaps in data and implications to be addressed by researchers, practice and policy and acts as a comprehensive holistic review process that can be applied to other countries.

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Increased prevalence of indoor Aspergillus and Penicillium species is associated with indoor flooding and coastal proximity: a case study of 28 moldy buildings

Abstract: Indoor flooding is a leading contributor to indoor dampness and the associated mold infestations in the coastal United States. Whether the prevalent mold genera that infest the coastal flood-prone buildings...

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Burden in “Moldy” versus “Non-Moldy” Homes: A Case Study Employing Advanced Sequencing Techniques in a US Metropolitan Area

Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Burden in “Moldy” versus “Non-Moldy” Homes: A Case Study Employing Advanced Sequencing Techniques in a US Metropolitan Area

Characterization of Indoor Molds after Ajka Red Mud Spill, Hungary

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Impacts Related to Mould-Affected Housing: An Australian Integrative Review

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