Assessment of culturable airborne fungi in a university campus in Hangzhou, southeast China

摘要

Airborne fungi, which may adversely affect human health through allergy, infection, and toxicity, are being proposed as a cause of adverse health effects. In this?study, a systematic survey on culturable airborne fungi was?conducted?for one year in four areas of the university campus in Hangzhou, southeast of China: living area (LA), dining area (DA), teaching area (TA), and office area (OA). Results showed that the mean concentration of culturable fungal was about 1104 CFU/m3.?Pencillium?was the most common fungal group, and contributed to more than 36% of the total fungal concentration, followed byCladosporium,?Alternaria, and?Asperigillus?isolates. Fungal concentration in DA was highest (1271 CFU/m3), while the concentration in OA was lowest (791 CFU/m3). The seasonal variation pattern of fungal concentration in a year was significant in LA, DA and TA, where the concentrations were higher in spring and summer, and lower in autumn and winter (**P<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in fungal concentration in OA. With regard to the size distribution of airborne fungi, there were no significance among different areas and seasons, all appeared as normal logarithm distribution. Moreover, airborne fungi was mostly collected in stage 3 (3.0 to 6.0 μm), stage 4 (2.0 to 3.5 μm) and stage 5 (1.0 to 2.0 μm), and totally composing?83.55%?of the population in?LA,?83.96% in DA,?85.14%?in TA, and?79.39%?in OA.?It suggested that a more efficient monitoring network and forewarning system of airborne microorganisms in the public areas should be gradually constructed in China.