Fungi in libraries: an aerometric survey

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Mycology
• Library science

Background:

• Fungi are potential allergens and contaminants found in indoor environments.
• Book collections may harbor fungal contaminants, posing risks to library patrons.
• Understanding fungal presence in libraries is crucial for assessing health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of fungi as allergic contaminants in university library book collections.
• To compare fungal spore levels in library stacks, adjacent areas, and outdoor environments.
• To assess the impact of book handling and ventilation systems on fungal spore concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Air sampling was conducted in eleven university libraries using Andersen Volumetric viable particle samplers.
• Sampling occurred on three separate occasions, with and without direct book handling.
• Control samples were collected from non-book storage areas and outdoor locations.

Main Results:

• Library fungal spore levels were generally low, with outdoor levels consistently higher than indoor levels.
• Air-conditioned (AC) libraries exhibited lower spore levels and indoor/outdoor ratios compared to conventionally ventilated (CV) libraries.
• Handling books increased spore counts, especially in CV libraries, but the recovered fungi were common taxa, not unique to libraries.

Conclusions:

• The low overall spore levels and lack of a distinct library mycoflora suggest that libraries are unlikely to be the primary source of fungal allergens.
• Alternative sources should be investigated for library-based respiratory symptoms.
• Ventilation systems, particularly AC, play a role in managing indoor fungal spore levels.