Airborne microorganisms occur ubiquitously in the ambient air. Besides allergic and irritative-toxic effects, they can cause infections after inhalation. Occupational studies have shown that an increased incidence of respiratory diseases is found in adequately exposed workers. In addition to respiratory diseases, severe systemic infections can also occur in particular cases, such as in the case of a hantavirus infection that is recognized as an occupational disease. In studies from environmental medicine, respiratory diseases have also been observed in residents living in the vicinity of livestock facilities and evaporative cooling towers. In the latter case, an infection risk may be caused by inhalation of legionella-contaminated aerosol from the exhaust air of such systems.Currently, there are no health-related exposure limits for airborne microorganisms released from such facilities. Environmental risk assessment can be carried out on the basis of the guideline VDI 4250 part 1, which relies on an excess of natural background concentration by facility-specific emissions. For the approval practice, the LAI-Leitfaden Bioaerosole is a uniform, standardized method for the determination and assessment of bioaerosol exposure.In indoor spaces, only a few mold types, such as Aspergillus fumigatus are able to trigger infections by local or systemic infection of the human organism. In particular, persons with an immune deficiency or allergies must be informed about the risks of mold exposure in indoor air. In general, mold growth in indoor spaces is a hygienic problem and must not be accepted as a matter of principle.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00103-017-2553-6 | DOI Listing |
Toxics
December 2024
Research Centre for Livestock Environmental Control and Smart Production, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging as significant environmental contaminants, posing potential health risks worldwide. Intensive livestock farming, particularly swine production, is a primary contributor to the escalation of ARG pollution. In this study, we employed metagenomic sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to analyze the composition of microorganisms and ARGs across four vectors in a typical swine fattening facility: dung, soil, airborne particulate matter (PM), and fodder.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
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 PDFMicroorganisms
December 2024
School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
Multiple human and plant pathogens are dispersed and transmitted as bioaerosols (e.g., , SARS-CoV-2, , , spp.
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December 2024
Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA.
Resuspended particles from human activities can contribute to pathogen exposure via airborne fomite contamination in built environments. Studies investigating the dissemination of resuspended viruses are limited. The goal of this study was to explore viral dissemination after aerosolized resuspension via human activities on indoor flooring.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
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.
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