Title: Prevalence of Aspergillus fumigatus complex in waste sorting and incineration plants: an occupational threat

Authors: Carla Viegas; Anita Quintal Gomes; Tiago Faria; Raquel Sabino

Addresses: Environment and Health RG, Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal; Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública (CISP/ENSP/UNL), 1600-560, Lisboa, Portugal ' Environment and Health RG, Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal ' Environment and Health RG, Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal ' Environment and Health RG, Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal; Mycology Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge of Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract: Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the major ubiquitous saprophytic fungi and it is considered one of the fungal species with higher clinical relevance. This study aimed at characterising the prevalence of A. fumigatus complex in one waste-sorting plant and also in one incineration plant. Conventional and molecular methodologies were applied in order to detect its presence. Aspergillus fumigatus complex was the second most frequently found in the air from the waste-sorting plant (16.0%) and from the incineration plant (18.0%). Regarding surfaces, it ranked the third species most frequently found in the waste-sorting plant (13.8%) and the second in the incineration plant (22.3%). In the waste-sorting plant, it was possible to amplify by qPCR DNA from the A. fumigatus complex in all culture-positive sampling sites plus one other sampling site that was negative by culture analysis. Considering the observed fungal load, it is recommended to apply preventive and protective measures in order to avoid or minimise worker's exposure.

Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus complex; prevalence; waste sorting plants; incineration plants; conventional methodologies; molecular methodologies; toxigenic potential; occupational health; saprophytic fungi; fungal load; preventive measures; protective measures; worker exposure; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2015.074939

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2015 Vol.16 No.4, pp.353 - 369

Accepted: 19 Nov 2015
Published online: 24 Feb 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article