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Publication
Fungal contamination in schools: key insights and assessment strategies
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Fungal contamination in schools poses significant risks to indoor air quality and student health, particularly from species like Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium sp., which are linked to respiratory illnesses. This systematic review examines the impact of geographical location and seasonality on fungal presence in schools, while evaluating sampling methodologies, analytical approaches, and contextual factors that influence exposure. This systematic review identified 47 studies selected for analysis, based on inclusion criteria such as “Indoor school environments” and “Fungi OR Mold”. Data extraction focused on sampling practices (environmental samples), sampling techniques (active/passive), analytical methods (culture-based/molecular), climatic conditions, and clinically relevant fungi. Sampling occurred predominantly in classrooms (38/47 studies), with additional sites including canteens, corridors, and surfaces. Active sampling (32 studies) used impactors, filters, and pumps, while passive methods (15 studies) relied on settled dust and electrostatic cloths. Only 7 studies combined both approaches, limiting comprehensive exposure assessment. Culture-based methods (32 studies) dominated but risk underestimation, as only 11 studies used molecular assays (e.g., qPCR), and just 3 integrated both. Contextual data (building structure, ventilation, and cleaning practices) were reported in only 7% of studies, hindering meta-analysis. Moisture damage and carpeting correlated with elevated fungal levels and respiratory symptoms. A comprehensive sampling approach, combining active and passive sampling with molecular and culture-based techniques, is critical for accurate fungal identification and resistance profiling [6]. Contextual factors (humidity, ventilation, seasonal changes) must be systematically reported to inform interventions. Regulatory frameworks should prioritize species-specific monitoring (e.g., Mucorales order, Aspergillus fumigatus) and school-specific guidelines for air quality. Future research must adopt interdisciplinary collaboration and centralized data repositories to advance risk mitigation. Addressing these gaps will safeguard student health and support evidence-based policies for healthier educational environments.
Description
This project was supported by FCT/MCTES UIDP/05608/2020 and UIDB/05608/2020, by national funds through FCT/MCTES/FSE/UE, 2023.01366.BD and Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, national support through IPL/2022/InChildhealth/BI/12M; projects IPL/IDI&CA2024/WWTPSValor_ESTeSL and IPL/IDI&CA2024/MycoSOS_ESTeSL. This work was also supported by the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard award Round 7 (SBF007\100130). This project was partly funded by EU Horizon 2021 grant no. 101056883 and co-funding from the author’s organizations and/or Ministries. Funding from Swiss SERI grant 22.00324, UKRI grant 10040524, and NHMRC grant APP2017786 and APP2008813. Views expressed are of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of EU, Swiss SERI, UKRI, or NHMRC.
Keywords
Occupational health Fungal contamination Exposure contamination School FCT_UIDP/05608/2020 FCT_UIDB/05608/2020 IPL/2022/InChildhealth/BI/12M IPL/IDI&CA2024/WWTPSValor_ESTeSL IPL/IDI&CA2024/MycoSOS_ESTeSL
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Cervantes R, Pena P, Viegas C. Fungal contamination in schools: key insights and assessment strategies. In: AIRMON 2025 – 11th International Symposium on Modern Principles for Air Monitoring and Biomonitoring, Loen (Norway), June 15-19, 2025.