Profiles of Environmental Mold: Indoor and Outdoor Air Sampling in a Hematology Hospital in Seoul, South Korea

Sung-Yeon Cho, Jun-Pyo Myong, Won-Bok Kim, Chulmin Park, Sung Jeon Lee, Sang Hyeon Lee and Dong-Gun Lee
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Sung-Yeon Cho: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 16591, Korea
Jun-Pyo Myong: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
Won-Bok Kim: Vaccine Bio Research Institute, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
Chulmin Park: Vaccine Bio Research Institute, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
Sung Jeon Lee: Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul 06591, Korea
Sang Hyeon Lee: Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul 06591, Korea
Dong-Gun Lee: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 16591, Korea

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: Inhalation of fungal spores can cause various spectrums of fungal diseases in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations and profiles of fungal species in air collected at different locations in hematology wards and outside of the hospital in Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital over the course of a year. Air sampling was performed at four locations—outside the hospital (O), in the general ward (GW), in the lounge in the cleanroom (CR L ), and in the patients’ room in the cleanroom (CR R )—by using Andersen single-stage air sampler at every two weeks between May 2017 and May 2018. The results showed higher mean fungal density in summer, and the concentrations of fungi decreased as follows: O (954.8 colony-forming units, CFU/m 3 ) > GW (4.2 CFU/m 3 ) > CR L (0.7 CFU/m 3 ) > CR R (0 CFU/m 3 ). Aspergillus was most prevalent both inside (47%) and outside (62%) of the hospital. However, the outdoor fungal profile was more diverse than the indoor profile. Within the hospital, Penicillium was the second most dominant species. In conclusion, the outdoor fungal profile is diverse even in Seoul, a highly urbanized area in Korea. The distribution of indoor air fungi is significantly different from outdoor due to air quality systems. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), as well as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered systems should be established to effectively reduce levels of indoor fungi.

Keywords: air filters; environmental monitoring; fungi; hospital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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