title: [Fibers as carriers of microbial particles].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to assess the ability of natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic fibers to transport microbial particles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The simultaneously settled dust and aerosol sampling was carried out in 3 industrial facilities processing natural (cotton, silk, flax, hemp), synthetic (polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene) and semi-synthetic (viscose) fibrous materials; 2 stables where horses and sheep were bred; 4 homes where dogs or cats were kept and 1 zoo lion pavilion. All samples were laboratory analyzed for their microbiological purity. The isolated strains were qualitatively identified. To identify the structure and arrangement of fibers that may support transport of microbial particles, a scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both settled and airborne fibers transported analogous microorganisms. All synthetic, semi-synthetic and silk fibers, present as separated threads with smooth surface, were free from microbial contamination. Natural fibers with loose packing and rough surface (e.g., wool, horse hair), sheaf packing and septated surface (e.g., flax, hemp) or present as twisted ribbons with corrugated surface (cotton) were able to carry up to 9×10(5) cfu/g aerobic bacteria, 3.4×10(4) cfu/g anaerobic bacteria and 6.3×10(4) cfu/g of fungi, including pathogenic strains classified by Directive 2000/54/EC in hazard group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As plant and animal fibers are contaminated with a significant number of microorganisms, including pathogens, all of them should be mechanically eliminated from the environment. In factories, if the manufacturing process allows, they should be replaced by synthetic or semi-synthetic fibers. To avoid unwanted exposure to harmful microbial agents on fibers, the containment measures that efficiently limit their presence and dissemination in both occupational and non-occupational environments should be introduced.
authors.affiliation: Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland (Pracownia Zagrożeń Biologicznych, Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych / Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards). ragor@ciop.pl.
authors.forename: Rafał L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Górny
authors.affiliation: Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland (Pracownia Zagrożeń Biologicznych, Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych / Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards). anlaw@ciop.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ławniczek-Wałczyk
authors.affiliation: Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland (Pracownia Zagrożeń Biologicznych, Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych / Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards). agsto@ciop.pl.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stobnicka
authors.affiliation: Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland (Pracownia Zagrożeń Biologicznych, Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych / Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards). magol@ciop.pl.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gołofit-Szymczak
authors.affiliation: Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland (Pracownia Zagrożeń Biologicznych, Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych / Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards). macyp@ciop.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cyprowski
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013783:Textile Industry; D013784:Textiles / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004391:Dust
keywords: bacteria; contamination; fibers; fungi; occupational environment; transport