scholarly journals Fungal Fragments as Indoor Air Biocontaminants

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 3522-3531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafał L. Górny ◽  
Tiina Reponen ◽  
Klaus Willeke ◽  
Detlef Schmechel ◽  
Enric Robine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Scientific Explanation ◽  
Fungal Spore ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Release Mechanism ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Fungal Propagules ◽  
Optical Particle Counter ◽  
Common Antigens ◽  
Human Health Effects

ABSTRACT The aerosolization process of fungal propagules of three species (Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium melinii, and Cladosporium cladosporioides) was studied by using a newly designed and constructed aerosolization chamber. We discovered that fungal fragments are aerosolized simultaneously with spores from contaminated agar and ceiling tile surfaces. Concentration measurements with an optical particle counter showed that the fragments are released in higher numbers (up to 320 times) than the spores. The release of fungal propagules varied depending on the fungal species, the air velocity above the contaminated surface, and the texture and vibration of the contaminated material. In contrast to spores, the release of fragments from smooth surfaces was not affected by air velocity, indicating a different release mechanism. Correlation analysis showed that the number of released fragments cannot be predicted on the basis of the number of spores. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with monoclonal antibodies produced against Aspergillus and Penicillium fungal species showed that fragments and spores share common antigens, which not only confirmed the fungal origin of the fragments but also established their potential biological relevance. The considerable immunological reactivity, the high number, and the small particle size of the fungal fragments may contribute to human health effects that have been detected in buildings with mold problems but had no scientific explanation until now. This study suggests that future fungal spore investigations in buildings with mold problems should include the quantitation of fungal fragments.

scholarly journals Molds in museum environments: Biodeterioration of art photographs and wooden sculptures

2013 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 955-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Ljaljevic-Grbic ◽  
M. Stupar ◽  
Jelena Vukojevic ◽  
Ivana Maricic ◽  
Natasa Bungur
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Niger ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Trichoderma Viride ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Chaetomium Globosum ◽  
Fungal Colonization ◽  
Cellulolytic Activity ◽  
Cultural Center ◽  
Fungal Propagules ◽  
Alternaria Sp

Pieces of art stored in museum depots and display rooms are subject to fungal colonization that leads to bio-deterioration processes. Deteriorated wooden sculptures and art photographs temporarily stored in the quarantine room of the Cultural Center of Belgrade were subject to mycological analyses. Twelve fungal species were identified on the wooden substratum and five species were detected on photograph surfaces. Trichoderma viride, Chaetomium globosum and Alternaria sp. were the fungi with proven cellulolytic activity detected on the examined cellulose substrata. Indoor air mycobiota were estimated to 210.09 ? 8.06 CFU m-3, and the conidia of fungus Aspergillus niger were the dominant fungal propagules in the air of the examined room.

scholarly journals Seasonal Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Mangroves of Goa, India

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D’Souza ◽  
Bernard Felinov Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Fungal Spore ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Spore Density ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Fungal Community Composition ◽  
Mangrove Plant

Seasonal dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community composition in three common mangrove plant species, namely, Acanthus ilicifolius, Excoecaria agallocha, and Rhizophora mucronata, from two sites in Goa, India, were investigated. In all three species variation in AM fungal spore density was observed. Maximum spore density and AM species richness were recorded in the premonsoon season, while minimum spore density and richness were observed during monsoon season at both sites. A total of 11 AM fungal species representing five genera were recorded. Acaulospora laevis was recorded in all seasons at both sites. Multivariate analysis revealed that season and host coaffected AM spore density and species richness with the former having greater influence than the latter.

scholarly journals Atmospheric conditions affecting the transmission of COVID-19 virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1487
Author(s):  
Purva Shoor ◽  
Gagan Deep Kaur ◽  
Amanjot Kaur Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Pollution Control ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Low Humidity

The physical environment plays an important role in the transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19. Atmospheric conditions associated to diseases like influenza, adenovirus infections, parainfluenza, common cold viruses and so on. But we are still lacking in evidence to support the influence of meteorological conditions in spreading COVID-19. We have discussed air pollution, smoking, low air temperature, and proximity to equator, low humidity and air velocity as contributing factors in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through this narrative synthesis. Bio-aerosol or ultra-fine particulate matter seems to be the most promising mode of transmission of COVID-19. Other methods are direct contact and droplet infection. Air pollution control can prevent priming of respiratory system which shall further protect from pulmonary infections. Air sanitization and humidifiers can be considered to modify the indoor air and prevent contracting infection at workplaces, schools and other gatherings.

Everyday activities and variation of fungal spore concentrations in indoor air

1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marja Lehtonen ◽  
Tiina Reponen ◽  
Aino Nevalainen
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Fungal Spore ◽  
Everyday Activities

scholarly journals Assessment of Indoor Microbiological Air Contamination in Research Facility at University of Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sytty Mazian Mazlan ◽  
Ainon Hamzah ◽  
Wan Syaidatul Aqma Wan Mohd Noor ◽  
Azlan Abas
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Micrococcus Luteus ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Bacillus Sphaericus ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Air Contamination

Abstract Indoor air quality is a concept that applies to the nature of the environment in and around buildings and facilities in which it contributes to the safety and security of those in the house. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial and fungal species present in the room, determine indoor air quality and investigate consumer views on indoor air quality in the Biology Building, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, National University of Malaysia. This study was conducted at the Biology Building at 8 selected sampling sites. Microbes were sampled using nutrient agar (bacteria) and potato dextrose agar (fungus). All samples of microbes were classified using two approaches; i) morphological examination and ii) biochemical reaction experiments. CO2, temperature and relative humidity are registered using the Direct Sense Monitoring Kit. A survey on customer satisfaction with indoor air quality in the building was carried out and evaluated in order to collect empirical details. This study found that the presence of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus laterosporus, Bacillus sphaericus, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas fluarescens, Pseudomonas stuzeri and Aeromonas hydrophila bacterial. The fungi species are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulans, Penicillium digitatum and Fusarium dimerum. The result also shows that the carbon dioxide, temperature and relative humidity concentrations for most sampling stations comply with the DOSH standards. Moreover, almost all participants reported that their level of health and comfort while in the building is good, while the ventilation system of the building is at a comfortable level. Whereas, the degree of knowledge for most respondents on the value of indoor air quality is high. Two of the recommendations included in this study to enhance indoor air quality are to insure that the air conditioning device is correctly controlled and to raise understanding of the value of indoor air quality among staff and students in the Biology Building.

scholarly journals Thermal comfort in the low energy building - validation and modification of the Fanger model

2021 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 15003
Author(s):  
Natalia Krawczyk
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentration ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Calculation Results ◽  
Thermal Comfort Model ◽  
The Impact

Nowadays, we spend most of our time inside buildings. Thus, ensuring adequate thermal comfort is an important issue. The paper discusses the issue of thermal comfort assessment in the intelligent low energy building “Energis” of Kielce University of Technology (Poland). The tests conducted in a selected lecture theater focused on collecting anonymous questionnaires containing thermal sensation and air quality votes of the respondents as well as performing measurements of indoor air parameters (air and globe temperatures, relative humidity, air velocity and CO2 concentration). Based on the obtained data a comparison has been done between the actual sensation votes of the volunteers and the calculation results performed with the Fanger thermal comfort model. Two indices have been considered in the paper: PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied). A modification of the model has also been proposed, which considers the impact of the carbon dioxide concentration on thermal comfort.

scholarly journals Performance of Calcium Chloride and Silica Gel as Solid Desiccant Dehumidifiers for Indoor Air Quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-70
Author(s):  
Nur Kamila Ramli ◽  
Yusri Yusup ◽  
Christabel Lam Pei Lin ◽  
Baharin Azahari ◽  
Mardiana Idayu Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Calcium Chloride ◽  
Silica Gel ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Airborne Bacteria ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Ability Test ◽  
Test Room

Desiccant materials are recently discovered as a viable alternative in dehumidification technology due to their naturally hygroscopic qualities and minimal energy requirement. This paper discusses the performance of four brand samples of selected desiccants used for dehumidification. In this study, dehumidification ability and indoor air quality (IAQ) tests were carried out. The dehumidification ability test was conducted in a controlled environmental chamber at a temperature of 25°C, relative humidity of 70%, and air velocity of 2 m/s for 45-minute session. Meanwhile, the IAQ test was carried out in a naturally ventilated test room, and six IAQ parameters (relative humidity, air velocity, air temperature, particulate matter (PM10), airborne bacteria and carbon dioxide (CO2) were studied. The IAQ test was performed for five different conditions: control, application of brand samples A, B, C and D in the test room. From this study, it was found, brand A (0.6823 g/kg) and brand B (0.6849 g/kg) had a relatively good dehumidification ability during the 45-minute dehumidification ability test compared to brand C (0.3108 g/kg) and brand D (0.3982 g/kg). The IAQ test revealed that brand A had the biggest variation in indoor-outdoor relative humidity of 13.12%, while brand D had the smallest difference of 11.83%. Brand B had the highest average PM10 concentration of 0.037 μg/m3. The airborne bacterial count for all conditions had no statistical significance, indicating the application of desiccants were not effective in reducing airborne bacteria. From this study, it can be concluded that calcium chloride (brand A and B) samples performed better than silica gel (brand C and D) samples in terms of dehumidification ability and IAQ profile.

scholarly journals Measuring 3D indoor air velocity via an inexpensive low-power ultrasonic anemometer

2020 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 109805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Arens ◽  
Ali Ghahramani ◽  
Richard Przybyla ◽  
Michael Andersen ◽  
Syung Min ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Power Ultrasonic ◽  
Ultrasonic Anemometer

scholarly journals The Role of Microscopy in Indoor Air Quality Investigations

2004 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-31
Author(s):  
R.B. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Handling System ◽  
System Components ◽  
Dormant Forms ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Indoor Conditions

Numerous studies have demonstrated that fungi are capable of colonizing a range of indoor construction and finishing materials as well as a number of air handling system components. Many of the species found are known to produce mycotoxins and demonstration of the presence of ‘toxic mould’ in both the workplace and in dwellings has become a major issue. Mould issues now are the focus of litigation or are currently in contention in a number of states and hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.The indoor environment harbors a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Under normal indoor conditions most of these organisms are present as dormant forms. The fungi persist either as conidia (asexual spores), sexual spores, or hyphal fragments. The presence of water in an environment may lead to the growth and proliferation of fungal species, sometimes resulting in deterioration of the colonized substrates with possible negative effects on IAQ.

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