Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Assessment of Airborne Fungi Concentrations in Subway Stations in Seoul, Korea

서울시 일부 지하철 역사 내 공기 중 진균 농도에 관한 연구

  • Cho, Jun-Ho (Public Health Adminstration, Hanyang Woman's University) ;
  • Paik, Nam-Won (Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 조준호 (한양여자대학 보건행정과) ;
  • 백남원 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2009.11.10
  • Accepted : 2009.12.22
  • Published : 2009.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study was performed to assess airborne fungi concentrations during fall in eight subway stations in Seoul, Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate appropriate culture media and evaluate factors affecting airborne fungi concentrations. Results indicated that airborne fungi concentrations showed log-normal distribution. Thus, geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) were calculated. The GM of airborne fungi concentrations cultured on malt extract agar (MEA) media was 466 $cfu/m^3$ (GSD 3.12; Range 113~4,172 $cfu/m^3$) and the GM of concentrations cultured on DG18 media was 242 $cfu/m^3$ (GSD 4.75; Range 49~6,093 $cfu/m^3$). Both of GM values exceeded 150 $cfu/m^3$, the guideline of World Health Organization (WHO). There was no significant difference between two fungi concentrations cultured on MEA and DG18 media, respectively. Two factors, such as relative humidity and depths of subway stations were significantly related to airborne fungi concentrations. It is recommended that special consideration should be given to deeper subway stations for improvement of indoor air quality.

Keywords

References

  1. Ager, B. P., Ticker, J. A. : The control of microbiological hazards associated with air-conditioning and ventilation systems. Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 27, 341-354, 1983 https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/27.4.341
  2. Park, D., Jo, K., Yoon, C., Han, I., Park, D. : Factors influencing airborne concentration of fungi, bacteria and gram negative bacteria in kindergarten classroom. Journal of Environmental Health Sciences, 30(5), 440-448, 2004
  3. Selim, M. I., Juchems, A. M., Popendorf, W. : Assessing airborne Aflatoxin B1 during on farm grain handling activities. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 59, 252-256, 1998 https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119891010514
  4. Park, D., Jin, K., Yoo, K. : Analysis on non-malignant r espiratory a nd d row siness r ate symptom for passengers using subway in Seoul. Journal of Environmental Health Sciences, 32(5), 412-417, 2006
  5. Awad, A. H. A. : Environmental study in subway metro stations in Cairo, Egypt. Journal of Occupational Health, 44, 112-118, 2002 https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.44.112
  6. Macher, J. Ed. Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control. ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), 1999
  7. Dillon, H. K., Miller, J. D., Sorenson, W. G., Douwes, J., Jacobs, R. R. : Review of methods applicable to the assessment of mold exposure to children. Environmental Health Perspectives Supplements 107, S3, 1999 https://doi.org/10.2307/3434283
  8. Dillon, H. K., Heinsohn, P. A., Miller, J. D. (eds) : Field guide for the determination of biological contaminants in environmental samples. An AIHA Biosafety Guide, Fairfax, Va., AIHA, 1996
  9. Palmgren, U., Strom, G., Blomquist, G., Malmberg, P. : Collection of airborne micro-organisms on nuclepore filters: estimation and analysis-CAMNEAmethod. Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 61, 401-406, 1986 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.1986.tb04303.x
  10. Ramirez, C. : Manual and Atlas of the Penicillia. Elsevier Biomedical, Amsterdam, 1982
  11. Raper, K. B., Fennel, D. I. : The Genus Aspergillus. The William & Wilkins Co. Baltimore, 1965
  12. World Health Organization (WHO), Indoor air quality: biological contaminants. Report on a WHO meeting, WHO Regional Publications European series No. 31. WHO, Copenhagen. Denmark. 1988
  13. IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association, Inc.), Indoor Air Quality Standard 95-1 Recommended for Florida. Indoor Air Quality Association, Inc., Longwood, FL. 1995
  14. US OSHA (United States Occupational Satety and Health Administration), Sampling Instrumentation and Methods, OSHA Technical Manual. OSHA, Washington, DC. 1992
  15. Gilleberg, S. B., Faull, J. L., Graeme-Cook, K. A. : A preliminary survey of aerial biocontaminants at six London Underground stations. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 42, 149-152, 1998 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0964-8305(98)00005-5
  16. Bogomolova, E., Kirtsideli, I. : Airborne fungi in four stations of the St. Petersburg Underground railway system. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 63, 156-160, 2009 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2008.05.008
  17. Cho, J. H., Min, K. H., Paik, N. W. : Temporal variation of airborne fungi concentrations and related factors in subway stations in Seoul, Korea. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 209, 249-255, 2006 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2005.10.001
  18. Paxtuszka, J. S., Paw, U. K. T., Lis, D. O., Wlazlo, A., Ulfig, K. : Bacterial and fungal aerosol in indoor envirnment in Upper Silesia, Poland. Atmospheric Environment 34, 3833-3842, 2000 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(99)00527-0
  19. Kim, K. Y., Jeong, Y. I., Kim, C. N., Won, J. U., Roh, J. H. : Distribution of airborne microorganism in the feedstuff manufacture factory. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 17(4), 335-342, 2007
  20. Jovanovic, S., Felder-Kennel, A., Gabrio, T., Kouros, B., Link, B., Maisner, V., Piechotowski, I., Shick, K. H., Schrimpf, M., Weidner, U., Zollner, I., Schwenk, M. : Indoor fungi levels in homes of children with and without allergy history. Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 207, 369-378, 2004
  21. Gent, J. F., Ren, P., Belanger, K., Triche, E., Bracken, M. B., Holford, T. R., Leadrer, B. P. : Level of household mold associated with respiratory symptoms in the first year of life in a cohort at risk for asthma. Environmental Health Perspectives 110, A781-A786, 2002 https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.021100781
  22. Meklin, T., Husman, T., Vepsalainen, A., Vahteristo, M., Koivisto, J., Halla-Aho, J., Hyvarinen, A., Moschandreas, D., Nevalainen, A. : Indoor air microbes and respiratory symptoms of children in moisture damaged and referece schools. Indoor Air 12, 175-183, 2002 https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0668.2002.00169.x
  23. Ren, P., Jankun, T. M., Belanger, K., Bracken, M. B., Leaderer, B. P. : The relation between fungal propagules in indoor and home characteristics. Allergy 56, 419-424, 2001 https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.2001.056005419.x
  24. Simmons, R. B., Price D. L., Noble, J. A., Crow, S. A., Ahearn D. G. : Fungal colonization of air filters from hospitals. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 58, 900-904, 1997 https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119791012252
  25. Ellinger, P. J., Boone, K., Hendrickson, S. : Building material, used in construction can affect indoor fungal levels greatly. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 61, 895-899, 2000 https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660008984603
  26. Duchaine, C., Grimard, Y., Cormier, Y. : Influence of building maintenance, environmental factors, and seasons on airborne contaminants of swine confinement buildings. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 61, 56-63, 2000
  27. Desai, M. S., Ghosh, S. K. : Aflatoxin related hazards among rice mill Workers. Journal of Toxicology: Toxin Reviews 8, 81-88, 1989 https://doi.org/10.3109/15569548909059740
  28. Rautiala, S., Reponen, T., Nevalainen, A., Husman, T., Kalliokoski, P. : Control of exposure to airborne viable microorganisms during remediation of moldy buildings; report of three case studies. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 59, 455-460, 1998 https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119891010190

Cited by

  1. Concentrations of Airborne Fungi and Environmental Factors in the Subway Stations in Seoul, Korea vol.40, pp.2, 2014, https://doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2014.40.2.81
  2. Airborne Fungi Concentrations and Related Factors in the Home vol.39, pp.5, 2013, https://doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2013.39.5.438