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Concentrations and environmental influences of airborne fungi at university laboratories, hospital diagnostic laboratories  

Hwang, Sung-Ho (Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
Park, Dong-Uk (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University)
Ha, Kwon-Chul (Department of Biochemistry and Health Science, Changwon National University)
Park, Hyun-Hee (Occupaional Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency)
Joo, Se-Ik (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital)
Yoon, Chung-Sik (Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene / v.20, no.4, 2010 , pp. 256-262 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study evaluated the airborne concentrations of fungi in university laboratories, hospital diagnostic laboratories in Seoul. The incubated fungi was identified by lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB) staining method. Variables such as types of ventilation, temperature and relative humidity were investigated to explain laboratory airborne fungal concentrations. A total of 97 air samples were collected from 10 facilities in two institutions. Aspergilus spp., including Aspergilus niger, Aspergillius flavos and Penicillium spp. were found as predominant species. Airborne fungal concentrations ranged from not detected (ND) to 1,890 CFU/$m^3$. Airborne fungal concentrations were high in general-ventilated facilities and in laboratories where relative humidity ( > 60 %) were high ( p < 0.001). Therefore, we suggest that relative humidity should be maintained to properly reduce the concentration of fungal in university and hospital laboratories.
Keywords
Airborne fungi; laboratory; ventilation; temperature; relative humidity;
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