Online first
Current issue
Archive
Special Issues
About the Journal
Publication Ethics
2/2012 vol. 19
Stats
CC BY-NC 3.0 Poland
Get citation
RESEARCH PAPER
Effect of two aerosolization methods on the release of fungal propagules from a contaminated agar surface
Rafał Górny 1
,
 
Anna Ławniczek-Wałczyk 1
 
 
 
More details
Hide details
1
Biohazard Laboratory, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Rafał Górny   

Biohazard Laboratory, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012;19(2):279-284
 
Article (PDF)
References (35)
 
KEYWORDS
fungi
fragments
spores
agar surface
swirling release
air velocity
 
ABSTRACT
The effect of perpendicular and swirling aerozolization methods on the release of fungal fragments and spores from agar surface was studied. Three fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium chrysogenum) were selected for the tests as they commonly occur indoors, create different hyphae structure when they grow on surfaces, and have different spore shapes, aerodynamic sizes, and formation mechanisms. As the tested surface, Petri dishes filled with malt extract agar, separately inoculated with fungal strains and cultivated to obtain an abundant and even growth were used. For the purpose of these experiments, a new aerosolization chamber was built in which HEPA-filtered air stream responsible for fungal propagule release was either perpendicularly directed towards the contaminated surface or set in swirling motion above it. The experiments were conducted at 2 air velocities, typical for outdoor environment (11.6 m/s) and ventilation ducts (29.1 m/s). Concentrations and size distributions of released fragments and spores were measured using an optical particle counter. The results showed that the propagule release depends on the direction (swirling motion was able to release up to 3.4×105 fragments and 3×105 spores from 1 cm2 of contaminated surface, i.e. significantly more than the perpendicularly directed air stream), velocity (the higher the swirling air velocity applied, the higher the number of released propagules) of the air stream above the contaminated surface, and varied due to the taxonomical species origin (the higher number of particulates was released by Aspergillus colonies). Hence, the efficient control of both microbial fragments and spores, not only in the air, but also in their source should be an integral part of the quality control procedure.
 
REFERENCES (35)
1.
Green BJ, Schmechel D, Summerbell RC. Aerosolized fungal fragments. In: Adan OCG, Samson RA. Fundamentals of Mold Growth in Indoor Environments and Strategies for Healthy Living. Wageningen, Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2011.p.101-116.
Google Scholar
 
 
2.
Green BJ, Tovey ER, Sercombe JK, Blachere FM, Beezhold DH, Schmechel D. Airborne fungal fragments and allergenicity. Med Mycol. 2006; 44: 245-255.
Google Scholar
 
 
3.
Górny RL. Filamentous microorganisms and their fragments in indoor air – a review. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004; 11(2): 185-197.
Google Scholar
 
 
4.
Pady SM, Kramer CL, Wiley BJ. Kansas aeromycology XII: materials, methods and general results of diurnal studies 1959-1960. Mycologia 1962; 54: 168-180.
Google Scholar
 
 
5.
Harvey R. Air-spora studies at Cardifif III hyphal fragments. Trans Brit Mycol Soc. 1970; 54: 251-254.
Google Scholar
 
 
6.
Pady SM, Kramer CL. Kansas aeromycology VI: hyphal fragments. Mycologia 1962; 52: 681-687.
Google Scholar
 
 
7.
Pady SM, Gregory PH. Numbers and viability of airborne hyphal fragments in England. Trans Brit Mycol Soc. 1963; 46: 609-613.
Google Scholar
 
 
8.
Levetin E, Owens C, Weaver H, Davis W. Airborne fungal fragments: are we overlooking an important source of aeroallergens? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009; 123: 231.
Google Scholar
 
 
9.
Górny RL, Reponen T, Willeke K, Schmechel D, Robine E, Boissier M, et al. Fungal fragments as indoor air biocontaminants. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2002; 68(7): 3522-3531.
Google Scholar
 
 
10.
Cho S-H, Seo S-C, Schmechel D, Grinshpun SA, Reponen T. Aerodynamic characteristics and respiratory deposition of fungal fragments. Atmos Environ. 2005; 39: 5454-5465.
Google Scholar
 
 
11.
Reponen T, Seo S-C, Grimsley F, Lee T, Crawford C, Grinshpun SA. Fungal fragments in moldy houses: A field study in homes in New Orleans and Southern Ohio. Atmos Environ. 2007; 41: 8140-8149.
Google Scholar
 
 
12.
Seo S-C, Reponen T, Levin L, Grinshpun SA. Size-fractionated (1→3)-β-D-glucan concentrations aerosolized from different moldy building materials. Sci Total Environ. 2009; 407: 806-814.
Google Scholar
 
 
13.
Seo S, Cho Y, Choi J, Yoo Y, Kim D, Choung J. Exposure to smaller-sized fungal fragments in homes with a childhood asthmatic. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012; 129: 17.
Google Scholar
 
 
14.
Zoberi MH. Take-off of mold spores in relation to wind speed and humidity. Ann Botany. 1961; 25: 53-64.
Google Scholar
 
 
15.
Pasanen A-L, Pasanen P, Jantunen MJ, Kalliokoski P. Significance of air humidity and air velocity for fungal spore release into the air. Atmos Environ. 1991; 25: 459-462.
Google Scholar
 
 
16.
Buttner MP, Cruz-Perez P, Garrett PJ, Stetzenbach LD. Dispersal of fungal spores from three types of air handling system duct material. Aerobiologia 1999; 15: 1-8.
Google Scholar
 
 
17.
Górny RL, Reponen T, Grinshpun SA, Willeke K. Source strength testing of fungal spores from moldy building material. Atmos Environ. 2001; 35(28): 4853-4862.
Google Scholar
 
 
18.
Kildesø J, Würtz H, Nielsen KF, Kruse P, Wilkins CK, Thrane U, et al. Determination of fungal spore release from wet building materials. Indoor Air. 2003; 13: 148-155.
Google Scholar
 
 
19.
Kanaani H, Hargreaves M, Ristovski Z, Morawska L. Fungal spore fragmentation as a function of air flow rates and fungal generation methods. Atmos Environ. 2009; 43: 3725-3735.
Google Scholar
 
 
20.
Lee JH, Hwang GB, Jung JH, Lee DH, Lee BU. Generation characteristics of fungal spore and fragment bioaerosols by air ow control over fungal cultures. J Aerosol Sci. 2010; 41: 319-325.
Google Scholar
 
 
21.
Grinshpun SA, Górny RL, Reponen T, Willeke K, Trakumas S, Hall P, et al. New method for assessment of potential spore aerosolization from contaminated surfaces. Proceedings of the 6th International Aerosol Conference; Sep 8-13 2002; Taipei, Taiwan; 2002; 2: 767-768.
Google Scholar
 
 
22.
Samson RA, Hoekstra ES, Frisvad JC. Introduction to food- and airborne fungi. 7th ed. Utrecht, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 2004.
Google Scholar
 
 
23.
Korpi A, Pasanen A-L, Pasanen P. Volatile compounds originating from mixed microbial cultures on building materials under various humidity conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1998; 64: 2914-2919.
Google Scholar
 
 
24.
Foarde KK, VanOsdel DW, Menetrez MY, Chang JCS. Investigating the influence of relative humidity, air velocity, and amplification on the emission rates of fungal spore. Proceedings of Indoor Air 99 Conference; Aug 8-13 1999; Edinburgh, Scotland; London, CRC Ltd., 1999.
Google Scholar
 
 
25.
Sivasubramani SK, Niemeier RT, Reponen T, Grinshpun SA. Fungal spore source strength tester: laboratory evaluation of a new concept. Sci Total Environ. 2004a; 329: 75-86.
Google Scholar
 
 
26.
Seo SC, Reponen T, Levin L, Borchelt T, Grinshpun SA. Aerosolization of particulate (1→3)-β-D-glucan from moldy materials. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008; 74: 585-593.
Google Scholar
 
 
27.
Adhikari A, Jung J, Reponen T, Lewis JS, DeGrasse EC, Grimsley LF, et al. Aerosolization of fungi, (1→3)-β-D-glucan, and endotoxin from flood-affected materials collected in New Orleans homes. Environ Res. 2009; 109: 215-224.
Google Scholar
 
 
28.
Sivasubramani SK, Niemeier RT, Reponen T, Grinshpun SA. Assessment of the aerosolization potential for fungal spores in moldy homes. Indoor Air. 2004b; 14: 405-412.
Google Scholar
 
 
29.
Niemeier RT, Sivasubramani SK, Reponen T, Grinshpun SA. Assessment of fungal contamination in moldy homes: comparison of different methods. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2006; 3: 262-273.
Google Scholar
 
 
30.
Adhikari A, Lewis JS, Reponen T, DeGrasse EC, Grimsley LF, Chew GL, et al. Exposure matrices of endotoxin, (1→3)-β-D-glucan, fungi, and dust mite allergens in flood-affected homes of New Orleans. Sci Total Environ. 2010; 408: 5489-5498.
Google Scholar
 
 
31.
Domsch KH, Gams W, Anderson T-H. Compendium of soil fungi. Vol. 1. London, Academic Press LTD, 1980.
Google Scholar
 
 
32.
Baran E. Zarys mikologii lekarskiej. Wrocław, Volumed, 1998.
Google Scholar
 
 
33.
Pitt JI. A laboratory guide to common Penicillium species. 3rd ed. North Ryde (NSW), Food Science Australia, 2000.
Google Scholar
 
 
34.
Klich MA. Identification of common Aspergillus species. Utrecht, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 2002.
Google Scholar
 
 
35.
Burnett JH. Fundamentals of mycology. London, Edward Arnold, 1976.
Google Scholar
 
 
Share
Send by email
RELATED ARTICLE
Poultry house as point source of intense bioaerosol emission
Viral, bacterial, and fungal contamination of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
Differences in microbiological quality of leafy green vegetables
Exposure to dust, endotoxins and microbes in Finnish vegetable greenhouses
Microbial contamination of money sorting facilities
Indexes
 
Keywords index
Topics index
Authors index
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Improvement of editorial platform - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.

Improvement of visual identification of the journal - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.

Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher
© 2006-2024 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
Scroll to top