Toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in outdoor, recreational environments.
BACKGROUND
Some epidemiological studies of damp buildings have focused on health risks from indoor exposure to toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins. Most of these studies have not considered assessment of these hazards in outdoor environments. The purpose of this investigation was to assess for toxigenic fungal species in outdoor recreational environments through the microbial analysis of locations representing opportunities for human exposure. A screening assessment was also conducted using commercially available ELISA kits to assess for trichothecene mycotoxins in outdoor samples.


METHODS
Ten swab and tape-lift samples were obtained from a city park. Swabs were cultured and identified by a trained mycologist. Bulk samples of grasses were screened for deoxynivalenol using a commercial ELISA assay. A pilot study of 6 bulk samples was screened for macrocyclic trichothecenes using a commercial ELISA assay.


RESULTS
Tape-lift samples contained trace to moderate spores. Penicillium and Aspergillus-like spores were identified in 50% of tape-lift samples. 50% of swab samples contained potentially toxigenic species of Penicillium (P. citrinum, P. brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum). None of the bulk samples tested positive for deoxynivalenol. 3 of 6 (50%) bulk samples were positive for macrocyclic trichothecenes (> 0.2 ppb), however both negative control samples also tested positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Potentially toxigenic fungi were commonly encountered in an outdoor, recreational environment. Future epidemiological studies need to consider outdoor activities in hazard and exposure assessment. Further work is needed to define the accuracy of commercially developed ELISA kits that are being used for the detection of mycotoxins in environmental samples.
Sudakin
Daniel
D
Oregon State University, Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, 333 Weniger, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. sudakind@ace.orst.edu
Fallah
Payam
P
D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000737:chemistry; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000737:chemistry; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D015205:Northwestern United States; D010407:Penicillium / Q000737:chemistry; D011633:Public Facilities; D011998:Recreation; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D014255:Trichothecenes; C007262:deoxynivalenol