Mycological analysis of the sands of a box for children's play

Ecologic and hygienic interests led us to analyze the mycoflora of the sands of a sand box for children's play in Turin. Along with traditional methods, we have also employed selective techniques suitable for the isolation of cellulolytic and keratinolytic fungi. A total of 89 species were isolated. As supported by the literature references, the presence of most species is justified by the exogenous supply of vegetal residues, hairs, feathers and excrements. A good deal of species, moreover, are either well known agents of mycoses or have been isolated from various animal and human lesions; thus these sands do not represent the ideal environment for children's play.