Occurrence of the Toxin-Producing Aspergillus versicolor Tiraboschi in Residential Buildings

Abstract

In an area representative of a moderate climate zone (Lubuskie Province in Poland), mycological tests in over 270 flats demonstrated the occurrence of 82 species of moulds. Aspergillus versicolor Tiraboschi was often encountered on building partitions (frequency 4: frequently). The ability to synthesize the carcinogenic sterigmatocystin (ST) means that it poses a risk to humans and animals. Biotoxicological tests of biomasses of A. versicolor were conducted in the Microbiological and Toxicological Laboratory, using the planarians Dugesia tigrina (Girard). The obtained results of the tests covered a broad range of toxicity levels of isolated strains: from weakly toxic (100–1000 mg·L−3) to potently toxic (1–10 mg·L−3). The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) physicochemical method confirmed the ability of A. versicolor strains to synthesize sterigmatocystin. All of the samples of the air-dry biomasses of the fungi contained ST in the range between 0.03 and 534.38 mg·kg−1. In the bio-safety level (BSL) classification A. versicolor belongs to category 1. Additionally, A. versicolor is an allergenic mould.

Spergilli on Building Partitions Infested with Moulds in Residential Housing and Public Utility Premises

“…The following species were observed with the highest frequency: Cladosporium herbarum and Penicillum chrysogenum -frequency 5, (table 3). Mycological analysis demonstrated a significant qualitative change in the mould species in relation to the studies conducted by Piontek during the preceding years [33,3]. A significantly higher frequency on building partitions was observed in the case of such species as Aspergillus in lieu of such moulds as e.g.…”

“…Toxicological studies conducted at the laboratory of the Institute of Environmental Engineering of the Zielona Góra University, using planarians, demonstrated the varied toxicity of strains of A. versicolor coming from buildings. The LC 50 values ranged between 8.2 -603 mg dm -3 , which means that strains ranging between lowproductive (non-poisonous) and very strongly poisonous may occur in buildings [18,3]. All the toxins synthesized by Aspergilli create a potential risk in buildings, therefore, their presence on building partitions must not be tolerated.…”

“…The occurrence of moulds on building partitions is a problem whose severity has been increasing in many countries, not just in Poland. This negative phenomenon in buildings contributes to the bio-deterioration of building materials and reduces the sanitary quality of the internal air [1][2][3]. Analyses regarding the internal environment, which have been conducted in the recent years, indicate the two most dangerous species: Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor [4][5][6][7]3].…”

“…This negative phenomenon in buildings contributes to the bio-deterioration of building materials and reduces the sanitary quality of the internal air [1][2][3]. Analyses regarding the internal environment, which have been conducted in the recent years, indicate the two most dangerous species: Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor [4][5][6][7]3]. These moulds are able to synthesise such mycotoxins dangerous to the health of inhabitants as: macrocyclic trichothecenes, trichodermin and satratoxin G (S. chartarum) or sterigmatocystins (A. versicolor).…”

Technological Moisture as a Cause of Moulds on Building Partitions

“…Pure (axenic) cultures were isolated from mixed starter cultures by their passaging on the media: Czapek-Dox and MEA. The time of plating, cultivation and observation for an isolated single species was 21 days [8,9,11,12]. The isolated strains were subjected to identification tests.…”