Towards a risk evaluation of workers’ exposure to handborne and airborne microbial species as exemplified with waste collection workers

Madsen, Anne Mette; Frederiksen, Margit W.; Jacobsen, Mikkel Hyldeqvist; Tendal, Kira

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109177

Cited by 57 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…In eight of them, it was not possible to identify the section detected with culture-based methods. This finding corroborates the need to apply both methods in parallel to achieve a better characterization of Aspergillus sections, thus overcoming the limitations of each method [2,22,[29][30][31]63,64]. Indeed, culture-based methods provide information on the viable/culturable form required to estimate health risks, as it affects biological mechanisms, such as the cytotoxic and inflammatory responses [65], while molecular tools allow a rapid identification and are being gradually used to obtain data on the microbial biodiversity in different indoor environments [63].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Settleable Dust and Bioburden in Portuguese Dwellings

et al. 2020

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Monitoring campaigns in several buildings have shown that occupants exposed to contaminated indoor air generally exhibit diverse health symptoms. This study intends to assess settleable dust loading rates and bioburden in Portuguese dwellings by passive sampling onto quartz fiber filters and electrostatic dust cloths (EDCs), respectively. Settled dust collected by EDCs was analyzed by culture-based methods (including azole-resistance screening) and qPCR, targeting four different toxigenic Aspergillus sections (Flavi, Fumigati, Circumdati, and Nidulantes). Dust loading rates and bioburden showed higher variability in the summer season. In both seasons, Penicillium sp. was the one with the highest prevalence (59.1% winter; 58.1% summer), followed by Aspergillus sp. in winter (13.0%). Fungal contamination increased in the winter period, while bacterial counts decreased. Aspergillus sections Circumdati and Nidulantes, detected in voriconazole supplemented media, and Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Nidulantes, detected by molecular tools, were found in the winter samples. This study reinforces the importance of applying: (a) Passive sampling methods in campaigns in dwellings; (b) two different culture media (MEA and DG18) to assess fungi; (c) in parallel, molecular tools targeting the most suitable indicators of fungal contamination; and (d) azole resistance screening to unveil azole resistance detection in fungal species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Settleable Dust and Bioburden in Portuguese Dwellings

et al. 2020

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“…Despite these observations, molecular tools are generally a suitable solution to overcome the nonviable/nonculturable limits of the commonly used culture-based methods as they might also provide a more exhaustive diversity profile (e.g., high throughput sequencing), unlike culture methods that might reveal less abundant taxa in an environment. However, culture-independent molecular methods often only identify most of the organisms until taxonomic levels [60,61] and this level of identification is insufficient for exposure assessment. Furthermore, it has already been reported that the viability of microorganisms can affect their inflammatory and/or cytotoxic potential and only viable microorganisms can cause infections, justifying the preference of culture-based methods [62][63][64].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Children’s Potential Exposure to Bioburden in Indoor Environments

et al. 2020

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The exposure to particles and bioaerosols has been associated with the increase in health effects in children. The objective of this study was to assess the indoor exposure to bioburden in the indoor microenvironments more frequented by children. Air particulate matter (PM) and settled dust were sampled in 33 dwellings and four schools with a medium volume sampler and with a passive method using electrostatic dust collectors (EDC), respectively. Settled dust collected by EDC was analyzed by culture-based methods (including azole resistance profile) and using qPCR. Results showed that the PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in classrooms (31.15 μg/m3 and 57.83 μg/m3, respectively) were higher than in homes (15.26 μg/m3 and 18.95 μg/m3, respectively) and highly exceeded the limit values established by the Portuguese legislation for indoor air quality. The fungal species most commonly found in bedrooms was Penicillium sp. (91.79%), whereas, in living rooms, it was Rhizopus sp. (37.95%). Aspergillus sections with toxigenic potential were found in bedrooms and living rooms and were able to grow on VOR. Although not correlated with PM, EDC provided information regarding the bioburden. Future studies, applying EDC coupled with PM assessment, should be implemented to allow for a long-term integrated sample of organic dust.

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“…Aspergillus fumigatus is the species more frequently associated with respiratory symptoms, especially due to the small size of the conidia and other virulence factors, such as gliotoxin production, associated with this species. However, besides the infection ability, risk assessment should consider the toxigenic potential of species belonging to Aspergillus genus [17]. Thus, species or strains belonging to sections Circumdati, Flavi, Nigri, and Nidulantes must be considered in the risk assessment, since they include species that produce mycotoxins [7,18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several sampling methods can be used to perform the Aspergillus assessment, as was already reported [12,15,17,23]. Active sampling methods (air sampling), although the most used method in sampling campaigns, can only reflect the load from a shorter period of time (mostly minutes).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In highly contaminated environments, genera with a higher growth rate might inhibit the growth of Aspergillus, and, therefore, culture based-methods combined with molecular tools seems to be the best approach to obtain the data necessary to attain legal and scientific criteria [12,[14][15][16][17]33]. Refined molecular tools allow for the rapid identification of fungi in air samples (for instance by high-throughput sequencing) and are being increasingly used to obtain information regarding the microbial biodiversity present in different indoor and occupational environments [13,33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Culture Media and Sampling Collection Method for Aspergillus spp. Assessment: Tackling the Gap between Recommendations and the Scientific Evidence

et al. 2020

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Culturing is still the most widely used method for determining fungal growth. Thus, is important to identify the most suitable culture media to assess Aspergillus spp. The aim of this study was to analyze data obtained from previous studies, aiming at identifying the most suitable culture media (malt extract agar (MEA) or dichloran-glycerol agar (DG18) to assess Aspergillus spp. isolation and growth. This study was conducted by using environmental samples (n = 1153). Most of the active sampling methods (air samples) were impacted directly onto both culture media. As for passive sampling methods, fungi were extracted from environmental matrices inoculated onto both media. Overall, total Aspergillus counts were higher in MEA (n = 617, 53.5%) than in DG18 (n = 536, 46.5%). Regarding Aspergillus sections, significant associations were detected with the media (χ2 (7) = 241.118, p < 0.001), the sampling approach (p < 0.001, 95% CI = (0.3 × 10−4), and the indoor environment (p < 0.001, 95% CI = (0.3 × 10−4)). As such, sampling approach and the culture media should be accurately selected when dealing with Aspergillus spp. exposure assessment.

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Towards a risk evaluation of workers’ exposure to handborne and airborne microbial species as exemplified with waste collection workers

Cited by 57 publications

References 91 publications

Settleable Dust and Bioburden in Portuguese Dwellings

Settleable Dust and Bioburden in Portuguese Dwellings

Assessment of Children’s Potential Exposure to Bioburden in Indoor Environments

Culture Media and Sampling Collection Method for Aspergillus spp. Assessment: Tackling the Gap between Recommendations and the Scientific Evidence

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