Microbial contamination in firefighter Headquarters’: A neglected occupational exposure scenario

Viegas, Carla; Gomes, Bianca; Pimenta, Raquel; Dias, Marta; Cervantes, Renata; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Carolino, Elisabete; Twarużek, Magdalena; Soszczyńska, Ewelina; Kosicki, Robert; Viegas, Susana

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108862

Cited by 10 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Settled dust was collected through a vacuum cleaner (HOOVER Brave BV71_BV10 A2, Solon, OH, USA) with 1 × 4 collector filter attached (also used for further analyses) and a composite sample of the settled dust filters was obtained by vacuuming all the identified sampling sites [ 8 , 42 ]. Floor surfaces from the same sampling sites were swabbed following the same procedures already reported [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ] to allow microbial quantification.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After incubation at 27 °C for 5–7 days for fungi (MEA and DG18) and at 30 °C (TSA) and 35 °C (VRBA) for 7 days for mesophilic bacteria and coliforms (Gram negative bacteria), respectively, microbial quantification was achieved (colony-forming units, CFU·g −1 , CFU·m −2 , CFU·m −2 ·day −1 ) as previously published [ 8 ]. Fungal species were identified microscopically following instructions reported by De [ 44 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thirty-nine samples were screened for mycotoxins presence: in 18 samples collected from the filters, in 18 EDC and in 3 settled dust samples as previous reported [ 8 ]. Thirty-eight mycotoxins were analyzed by HPL-MS (HPLC) Nexera (Shimadzu, Tokyo, Japan) with a mass spectrometry detector API 4000 (Sciex, Foster City, CA, USA).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pandemic crisis has also highlighted other specific occupational sectors of frontline workers, beyond healthcare workers, such as firefighters and waste collection workers. These occupational settings were recently characterized in Portugal regarding the occupational exposure to microbial contaminants, including SARS-CoV-2 [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Six Feet under Microbiota: Microbiologic Contamination and Toxicity Profile in Three Urban Cemeteries from Lisbon, Portugal

Viegas

Cervantes

Dias

et al. 2022

Toxins

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Cemeteries are potential environmental reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms from organic matter decomposition. This study aimed to characterize the microbial contamination in three cemeteries, and more specifically in grave diggers’ facilities. One active sampling method (impingement method) and several passive sampling methods (swabs, settled dust, settled dust filters and electrostatic dust cloths—EDC) were employed. The molecular detection of Aspergillus sections and SARS-CoV-2, as well as mycotoxin analysis, screening of azole resistance, and cytotoxicity measurement were also conducted. Total bacteria contamination was 80 CFU·m−2 in settled dust samples, reached 849 CFU·m−2 in EDC and 20,000 CFU·m−2 in swabs, and ranged from 5000 to 10,000 CFU·m−2 in filters. Gram-negative bacteria (VRBA) were only observed in in settled dust samples (2.00 × 105 CFU·m−2). Regarding Aspergillus sp., the highest counts were obtained in DG18 (18.38%) and it was not observed in azole-supplemented SDA media. SARS-CoV-2 and the targeted Aspergillus sections were not detected. Mycophenolic acid was detected in one settled dust sample. Cytotoxic effects were observed for 94.4% filters and 5.6% EDC in A549 lung epithelial cells, and for 50.0% filters and 5.6% EDC in HepG2 cells. Future studies are needed in this occupational setting to implement more focused risk management measures.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Six Feet under Microbiota: Microbiologic Contamination and Toxicity Profile in Three Urban Cemeteries from Lisbon, Portugal

Viegas

Cervantes

Dias

et al. 2022

Toxins

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“…Regarding the sampling campaign applied at the FFH, a multi-approach protocol was followed covering active and passive sampling methods [24]. A total of 760 indoor air samples were collected by the impaction method using the Andersen six-stage (360 samples) and Millipore (Burlington, MA, USA) air sampler (400 samples) methods, according to the manufacturers' guidelines.…”

Section: Sampling Approach and Analyses Performedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of an Indexed Score to Identify the Most Suitable Sampling Method to Assess Occupational Exposure to Fungi

et al. 2022

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The sampling approach is of utmost importance to obtain data regarding microbial viability and truly assess workers’ potential health effects. The purpose of this assessment is to create a score which will provide up-to-date information to identify the most suitable sampling method to assess occupational exposure to fungi. Data from a sampling campaign performed at Firefighters Headquarters (FFH) was analysed and a score was calculated from one (1) to three (3) for five (5) distinct sample parameters: (a) accuracy; (b) complexity of the field work; (c) cost; (d) complexity in laboratory work; and (e) time taken since the fieldwork until obtaining the fungal contamination characterization. The statistical analysis allowed us to conclude that settled dust and Andersen six-stage were the best sampling methods to perform the assessment of the occupational exposure to fungi at FFH, when considering the number of species. As for the final score, the results showed that surface swabs were the best sampling method. The results obtained for surface swabs highlights the low complexity of this processing combined with the fact that it is a low-cost sampling method. This study reinforces the need to use a wide array of sampling methods when assessing occupational exposure to fungal contamination to ensure an accurate risk characterization.

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Assessment of Portuguese fitness centers: Bridging the knowledge gap on harmful microbial contamination with focus on fungi

Viegas,

Peixoto,

Gomes

et al. 2024

Environmental Pollution

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Microbial contamination in firefighter Headquarters’: A neglected occupational exposure scenario

Cited by 10 publications

References 60 publications

Six Feet under Microbiota: Microbiologic Contamination and Toxicity Profile in Three Urban Cemeteries from Lisbon, Portugal

Six Feet under Microbiota: Microbiologic Contamination and Toxicity Profile in Three Urban Cemeteries from Lisbon, Portugal

Development of an Indexed Score to Identify the Most Suitable Sampling Method to Assess Occupational Exposure to Fungi

Assessment of Portuguese fitness centers: Bridging the knowledge gap on harmful microbial contamination with focus on fungi

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