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- Assessing the impact of climate change on indoor fungal contamination in Lisbon Metropolitan Area primary schools: a comprehensive studyPublication . Cervantes, Renata; Pena, Pedro; Dias, Marta; Gomes, Bianca; Viegas, CarlaThe increasing occurrence of severe weather events caused by global climate change raises concerns about indoor fungi. These changes can potentially alter fungal communities, promoting resistant strains, and intensifying mycotoxin production, having significant implications for human health. In educational settings, inadequate ventilation and high moisture levels amplify indoor fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination, posing a health risk that contributes to respiratory illnesses and allergic reactions in children and school staff. Our research explores the complex relationship between climate change and fungal diseases, highlighting the importance of temperature and moisture in driving fungal growth and mycotoxin production. This project focuses on the Lisbon metropolitan area and aims to assess the indoor levels of contamination and human exposure to azole-resistant fungi and mycotoxins in primary schools. The objective of this investigation is to carry out a comprehensive microbial characterization of the exposure to fungal contamination in primary educational institutions and to achieve that goal a comprehensive sampling campaign was employed, by the use of active and passive sampling methods and material collection from schools. Air samples utilizing the MAS-100 device, which collected 400L at a flow rate of 200 L/min, and the Anderson six-stage device, which collected 200L at a flow rate of 28.3 L/min were performed. Additionally, we collected samples of mops and surface swabs, and samples of settled dust through vacuuming and EDC, located in the sampling sites at 1.5 m height for 30 days, and collected during approximately 30 days. The samples will be analysed by culture-based methods, through the inoculation onto two different culture media: malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.05%) incubated at 27ºC and dichloran-glycerol agar (DG18), incubated at 27ºC and 37ºC for 6 days. We will also be performing molecular detection of the selected fungal sections (Aspergillus sections Circumdati, Flavi, Fumigati, and Nidulantes). To evaluate the degree of mycotoxin contamination in school environments, we will employ high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect the presence of 38 different mycotoxins. The preliminary results that will be presented are specifically related to the active air sampling. The ultimate objective is to provide essential insights for the development of effective risk management strategies that safeguard the health of school children and personnel in the face of growing fungal threats.
- Bioburden assessment in Lisbon groceriesPublication . Moreira, Sílvia; Dias, Marta; Gomes, Bianca; Cervantes, Renata; Pena, Pedro; Viegas, CarlaObjective: This study aims to characterize the occupational exposure to the bioburden of groceries workers and to identify the most critical workstations. Background To our knowledge, this is the first study performed in Portugal that intends to characterize microbial contamination in this specific setting. Method: This study was conducted between November and December of 2020 in fifteen groceries stores (M) located in the municipality of Cascais. Passive sampling methods (Electrostatic dust cloths—EDC) and surface swabs were used at three different locations (checkout, fruits/vegetables, and warehouse/dispenser areas). EDC and surface swabs were inoculated in four standard culture media, namely, malt extract agar (MEA), dichloran glycerol (DG18), tryptic soy agar (TSA), and violet red bile agar (VRBA) for further characterization. Results: The prevalence of bacterial contamination was higher than fungal contamination in both sampling methods. The highest prevalence was in the fruits/vegetable area regarding fungal and bacterial contamination. Conclusion: The sampling methods employed effectively identified the most critical workplaces regarding microbial contamination. Application This study will be useful for industrial hygienists since it is the first held in small grocery shops focusing on the occupational exposure assessment of microbiological contamination.
- One Health approach in “Do It Yourself” stores to tackle fungal contaminationPublication . Dias, Marta; Gomes, Bianca; Pena, Pedro; Cervantes, Renata; Viegas, Susana; Viegas, CarlaWood dust contamination by fungi poses health risks due to exposure by inhalation. This study aimed to assess the exposure of woodworking employees and customers to fungal load in 13 “Do It Yourself” (DIY) stores in the Lisbon metropolitan area (Portugal). An active sampling method (MAS-100 air sampler) was applied in different store areas, collecting 200L at a flow rate of 140 L/min. Regarding the occupational exposure assessment and considering the threshold suggested by the WHO of 150 CFU.m-3, the cutting area and the wood display surpass this limit in all the stores included. As for the threshold suggested by OSHA for fungi in non-industrial workplaces (1.0 x 101-1.0 x 104 CFU/m³), all the sampling sites from all the stores are within the limit, although indoor/outdoor ratio showed a higher indoor load compared to the outdoor counts in most of the stores. Regarding the Portuguese Indoor Air Quality legal framework, although the ratio I/O complied in two out of 13 stores, it was possible to identify one of these two toxigenic species with a quantitative cut-off above the legal frame. The results of this assessment raise health concerns regarding workers´ and customers ‘safety and support the need to implement measures to prevent exposure and protect workers' and customers' health. Additionally, it is known that wood dust and shavings from DIY stores may be used in animal bedding and agriculture, promoting fungal contamination in other settings. This highlights the need for a One Health approach.
- First insights of Portuguese primary schools’ fungal assessment: is indoor air quality complying with Portuguese legal framework?Publication . Pena, Pedro; Cervantes, Renata; Gomes, Bianca; Dias, Marta; Viegas, CarlaThe assessment of Microbial Indoor Air Quality in elementary schools is essential to create healthier school environments and improve children's health outcomes. Portugal only established protection thresholds for microbial exposure, in commercial and service buildings through Portaria nº 138-G/2021, leaving schools neglected for such parameters. Since this legislation has already been proven insufficient for fungal parameters (based on indoor/outdoor ratio) in other critical environments such as healthcare centers, this study aims to assess fungal load compliance in different sites of schools located in the Lisbon area. An active sampling method was applied by collecting air through a MAS-100 device collecting 200L at a flow rate of 100 L/min. Of the 10 schools assessed in a summer campaign, 9 did not comply with the Portuguese legal framework in at least one site (8 out of 10 in the classrooms, 5 out of 7 in the bathroom, 4 out of 9 in the canteen, 4 out of 6 in the gymnasiums, and 3 out of 8 in the library). A critical assessment was performed to identify fungal species listed in this legislation. Although one school complies with the quantitative cut-off (I/O), critical species such as Aspergillus section Circumdati (Aspergillus ochraceus), and Aspergillus section Fumigati (Aspergillus fumigatus) present in this school do not meet the toxigenic species quantitative cut-off. The risk of exposure to pathogenic fungi poses a major public health threat for school-age children impacting not only treatable fungal infections but also students' learning conditions and outcomes.
- Fungal and mycotoxins contamination in non-alcoholic beverages: the case of tea from Portuguese market and coffee beans from BrazilPublication . Viegas, Carla; Gomes, Bianca; Cervantes, Renata; Dias, Marta; Pena, Pedro; Oliveira, Filipe; Andrade, Ednilton Tavares de; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Twaruzek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Viegas, SusanaAgriculture constitutes one of the most sensitive sectors that could be affected by climate change. Among the xenobiotics contaminating agricultural crops, fungi and mycotoxins are the most challenging since their presence represents an economic burden due to crop loss and serious health effects related to animals and humans with severe repercussions. This study intends to characterize the fungal and mycotoxin contamination in tea available in the Portuguese market and in coffee from two Brazilian industries.
- Insights of Portugal’s teaching staff microbial occupational exposurePublication . Pena, Pedro; Cervantes, Renata; Gomes, Bianca; Dias, Marta; Viegas, CarlaEU strategies in education focus on risk factor awareness to promote a safe and healthy environment for the community. Health and safety promotion faces challenges due to the lack of adjusted policies for teaching staff. Teachers may be exposed to biohazards in schools, posing a health risk, which remains unexplored. Effective preventive measures and risk management actions require a thorough risk assessment. This study aims to conduct a microbial assessment regarding school staff personal exposure to bacterial and fungal loads.
- Microbial assessment in a rare Norwegian book collection: a One Health approach to cultural heritagePublication . Sequeira, Sílvia O.; Pasnak, Ekaterina; Viegas, Carla; Gomes, Bianca; Dias, Marta; Cervantes, Renata; Pena, Pedro; Twarużek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Viegas, Susana; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Penetra, Maria João; Silva, Inês; Caldeira, Ana Teresa; Pinheiro, CatarinaMicrobial contamination poses a threat to both the preservation of library and archival collections and the health of staff and users. This study investigated the microbial communities and potential health risks associated with the UNESCO-classified Norwegian Sea Trade Archive (NST Archive) collection exhibiting visible microbial colonization and staff health concerns. Dust samples from book surfaces and the storage environment were analyzed using culturing methods, qPCR, Next Generation Sequencing, and mycotoxin, cytotoxicity, and azole resistance assays. Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Cladosporium sp. were the most common fungi identified, with some potentially toxic species like Stachybotrys sp., Toxicladosporium sp., and Aspergillus section Fumigati. Fungal resistance to azoles was not detected. Only one mycotoxin, sterigmatocystin, was found in a heavily contaminated book. Dust extracts from books exhibited moderate to high cytotoxicity on human lung cells, suggesting a potential respiratory risk. The collection had higher contamination levels compared to the storage environment, likely due to improved storage conditions. Even though overall low contamination levels were obtained, these might be underestimated due to the presence of salt (from cod preservation) that could have interfered with the analyses. This study underlines the importance of monitoring microbial communities and implementing proper storage measures to safeguard cultural heritage and staff well-being.
- Assessing microbial contamination and particulate matter exposure in Portuguese poultry facilitiesPublication . Gomes, Bianca; Dias, Marta; Cervantes, Renata; Pena, Pedro; Viegas, CarlaIntroduction: In poultry farms, the combination of feathers, feces, and bedding material appears to be critical to the development of pathogens enhancing the risks associated with zoonosis and its dissemination throughout the food chain. Currently, the prevalent airborne microorganisms in animal production facilities are poorly described in terms of quantity, composition, and risk category Identification and quantification on the other hand, would be useful for determining the causative agents and performing risk assessments. Aim of the study: This study intends to characterize microbial contamination in poultry pavilions through a multi-approach protocol for sampling and analyses.
- Filling the knowledge gap: scoping review regarding sampling methods, assays, and further requirements to assess airborne virusesPublication . Dias, Marta; Gomes, Bianca; Pena, Pedro; Cervantes, Renata; Beswick, Alan; Duchaine, Caroline; Kolk, Annette; Madsen, Anne Mette; Oppliger, Anne; Pogner, Clara; Duquenne, Philippe; Wouters, Inge M.; Crook, Brian; Viegas, CarlaAssessment of occupational exposure to viruses is crucial to identify virus reservoirs and sources of dissemination early and to help prevent spread between employees and the general population. Measuring workers' exposure can facilitate the assessment of the effectiveness of protective and mitigation measures in place. This scoping review aims to give an overview of available methods and those already implemented for airborne virus exposure assessment in different occupational and indoor environments. The results retrieved from the various studies may contribute to the setting of future standards and guidelines to ensure a reliable risk characterization in the occupational environments crucial for the implementation of effective control measures. The search aimed at selecting studies between January 1st, 2010, and June 30th, 2023 in the selected databases. Fifty papers on virus exposure assessment fitted the eligibility criteria and were selected for data extraction. Overall, this study identified gaps in knowledge regarding virus assessment and pinpointed the need for further research. Several discrepancies were found (transport temperatures, elution steps, …), as well as a lack of publication of important data related to the exposure conditions (contextual information). With the available information, it is impossible to compare results between studies employing different methods, and even if the same methods are used, different conclusions/ recommendations based on expert judgment have been reported due to the lack of consensus in the contextual information retrieved and/or data interpretation. Future research on the field targeting sampling methods and in the laboratory regarding the assays to employ should be developed bearing in mind the different goals of the assessment.
- Microbial occupational exposure in e-waste recycling: biological hazards, their sources, and potential toxic effectsPublication . Viegas, Carla; Gomes, Bianca; Dias, Marta; Cervantes, Renata; Pena, Pedro; Gonçalves, Sara; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Carolino, Elisabete; Twarużek, Magdalena; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Viegas, SusanaE-waste management is a major environmental concern that also poses serious risks to occupational health. While e-waste workers are exposed to a variety of chemicals, little is known about occupational exposure to microbiological agents. This study aims to fill that gap. For that purpose, two e-waste facilities were assessed: one battery-recycling facility (BRF), and another facility (SRE) dedicated to e-waste sorting and storage before sending it for different processing. Filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD, 24 samples) and settled dust (13 samples) were collected using standardized sampling approaches, and analyzed by culture-based, chemical, and molecular methods. Workers also filled in a questionnaire regarding work activities and the use of FRPD. Microbial contamination, fungal diversity, azole resistance, and prevalence of Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Flavi (as surrogates of harmful fungal contamination) and mycotoxins were determined. To estimate potential health effects related to exposure, the FRPD cytotoxicity was determined in human A549 lung and HepG2 hepatic cells. Microbial contaminants with pathogenicity and toxigenic potential were observed in FRPD and settled dust. Aspergillus section Fumigati was widespread. The observed presence of Aspergillus section Flavi relates to the risk of exposure to aflatoxin B1 (a potent hepatocarcinogen). Four different mycotoxins were detected in 8% FRPD and 15% dust samples, including fumonisin B1 and sterigmatocystin (below the limit of quantification). A low to moderate cytotoxic effect of sampled FRPD was observed, with human lung alveolar cells more sensitive than hepatic cells. No relevant azole resistance was observed, nor correlations between fungal reduced azole-susceptibility and fungal growth at 37 °C or cytotoxicity. In summary, it can be concluded that this approach using FRPD and settled dust presents a promising potential for screening occupational exposure to microbiological contaminants in e-waste management. More studies in this occupational context should be prioritized to identify critical biological hazards and to support the implementation of appropriate health risk mitigation strategies.