We examined 12,026 fungal air samples (9,619 indoor samples and 2,407 outdoor samples) from 1,717 buildings located across the United States; these samples were collected during indoor air quality investigations performed from 1996 to 1998. For all buildings, both indoor and outdoor air samples were collected with an Andersen N6 sampler. The culturable airborne fungal concentrations in indoor air were lower than those in outdoor air. The fungal levels were highest in the fall and summer and lowest in the winter and spring. Geographically, the highest fungal levels were found in the Southwest, Far West, and Southeast. The most common culturable airborne fungi, both indoors and outdoors and in all seasons and regions, were Cladosporium, Penicillium, nonsporulating fungi, and Aspergillus. Stachybotrys chartarum was identified in the indoor air in 6% of the buildings studied and in the outdoor air of 1% of the buildings studied. This study provides industrial hygienists, allergists, and other public health practitioners with comparative information on common culturable airborne fungi in the United States. This is the largest study of airborne indoor and outdoor fungal species and concentrations conducted with a standardized protocol to date.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC123871 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.68.4.1743-1753.2002 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Open-set deep learning-enabled single-cell Raman spectroscopy for rapid identification of airborne pathogens in real-world environments.
Sci Adv
January 2025
Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
Pathogenic bioaerosols are critical for outbreaks of airborne disease; however, rapidly and accurately identifying pathogens directly from complex air environments remains highly challenging. We present an advanced method that combines open-set deep learning (OSDL) with single-cell Raman spectroscopy to identify pathogens in real-world air containing diverse unknown indigenous bacteria that cannot be fully included in training sets. To test and further enhance identification, we constructed the Raman datasets of aerosolized bacteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiversity and Composition of the Airborne Fungal Community in Mexico City with a Metagenomic Approach.
Microorganisms
December 2024
Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Circuito Exterior s/n, Coyoacán, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico.
Airborne fungi are widely distributed in the environment and originate from various sources like soil, plants, decaying organic matter, and even indoor environments. Exposure to airborne fungal spores can cause allergic reactions, asthma, and respiratory infections. Certain fungi can cause serious infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndoor and Outdoor Air Microbial Contamination During Different Reconstruction Methods of Historic Buildings.
Pathogens
November 2024
National Public Health and Pharmaceutical Centre, 1097 Budapest, Hungary.
The quality of indoor air is dependent on a number of factors, including the presence of microorganisms that colonize the building materials. The potential for health risks associated with microbial contamination is a significant concern during the renovation of buildings. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of two reconstruction methods for historic buildings on air quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSugarcane Pokkah Boeng Disease: Insights and Future Directions for Effective Management.
Life (Basel)
November 2024
CHEMBIOPRO Lab, Chimie et Biotechnologie des Produits Naturels, ESIROI Agroalimentaire, Université of Réunion Island, 97400 Saint-Denis, France.
Pokkah Boeng disease has been observed in nearly all countries where sugarcane is commercially cultivated. The disease was considered a minor concern in earlier times, but due to climate change, it has now become a major issue. It is caused by fungi, specifically the fungal complex.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS-CoV-2 Productively Infects Human Hepatocytes and Induces Cell Death.
J Med Virol
January 2025
Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Article Synopsis
- SARS-CoV-2 can infect liver cells (hepatocytes), leading to elevated liver enzymes and more severe disease in those with pre-existing liver conditions.
- The study shows that the virus replicates and spreads in hepatocytes, with infection being dependent on two specific proteins, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, which are found on the liver cells.
- Infection causes rapid liver cell death, with the Omicron variant causing quicker but less extensive damage compared to other strains, as seen in both human liver cells and infected mice.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!