Complementarity of conventional and molecular methods in the assessment of fung...

• Author(s): Viegas, Carla ; Gomes, Anita Q. ; Sabino, Raquel
• Date: 2014
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/3301
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa
• Subject(s): Environmental health; Fungal contamination; Aspergillus fumigatus; Composting plants; Compost worker; Portugal
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

The handling of waste and compost that occurs frequently in composting plants (compost turning, shredding, and screening) has been shown to be responsible for the release of dust and air borne microorganisms and their compounds in the air. Thermophilic fungi, such as A. fumigatus, have been reported and this kind of contamination in composting facilities has been associated with increased respiratory symptoms among compost workers. This study intended to characterize fungal contamination in a totally indoor composting plant located in Portugal. Besides conventional methods, molecular biology was also applied to overcome eventual limitations.