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Sampling of high concentrations of airborne fungi
Abstract:
The paper discusses a method developed for determining airborne fungi particles in environments highly contaminated with mold fungi. The collection of airborne fungi was performed with two slit samplers. These sampling devices were found to give the highest values out of the three different types tested simultaneously. After spores had been collected with the slit samplers, the collection medium, an agar gel, was removed from the petri dishes and homogenized in a sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The homogenate was diluted stepwise and spread on agar plates prior to the cultivation and the determination of viable counts. When the homogenization procedure was tested on samples collected from three different work environments, no increase or decrease in the number of colony-forming units could be detected. Storage of the homogenate at 2 degrees C over 9 d did not increase the number of viable fungal colonies.
Insights
This study presents a reliable method for quantifying airborne mold fungi using slit samplers and homogenization. The technique ensures accurate viable fungal counts, even after storage.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Mycology
- Air quality monitoring
Background:
- Accurate quantification of airborne fungi is crucial for assessing health risks in mold-contaminated environments.
- Traditional sampling methods may not always provide reliable viable counts.
- Development of robust methods is needed for effective mold spore detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a method for determining airborne fungi particles in highly mold-contaminated environments.
- To assess the efficiency of slit samplers for collecting airborne mold spores.
- To evaluate the stability of fungal samples after homogenization and storage.
Main Methods:
- Airborne fungi were collected using slit samplers, identified as the most effective among three tested devices.
- Collected spores on agar gel were homogenized in a sterile sodium chloride solution.
- Homogenates were serially diluted and plated on agar for cultivation and viable fungal count determination.
Main Results:
- Slit samplers yielded the highest airborne fungi counts compared to two other sampling devices.
- The homogenization process did not alter the number of colony-forming units in samples from diverse work environments.
- Storing homogenized samples at 2°C for 9 days did not affect the viability of fungal colonies.
Conclusions:
- The developed method, utilizing slit samplers and homogenization, provides accurate and reliable quantification of airborne fungi.
- The homogenization technique is robust and does not impact fungal viability, making it suitable for various environmental samples.
- The method allows for stable storage of samples, facilitating flexible analysis of airborne mold contamination.