title: Assessment of multi-contaminant exposure in a cancer treatment center: a 2-year monitoring of molds, mycotoxins, endotoxins, and glucans in bioaerosols.
abstract: Indoor air quality in health care facilities is a major public health concern, particularly for immunocompromised patients who may be exposed to microbiological contaminants such as molds, mycotoxins, endotoxins, and (1,3)-ß-D-glucans. Over 2 years, bioaerosols were collected on a monthly basis in a cancer treatment center (Centre F. Baclesse, Normandy, France), characterized from areas where there was no any particular air treatment. Results showed the complexity of mycoflora in bioaerosols with more than 100 fungal species identified. A list of major strains in hospital environments could be put forward due to the frequency, the concentration level, and/or the capacity to produce mycotoxins in vitro: Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus melleus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium herbarum, Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Penicillium brevicompactum. The mean levels of viable airborne fungal particles were less than 30.530 CFU per m3of air and were correlated to the total number of 0.30 to 20 μm particles. Seasonal variations were observed with fungal particle peaks during the summer and autumn. Statistical analysis showed that airborne fungal particle levels depended on the relative humidity level which could be a useful indicator of fungal contamination. Finally, the exposure to airborne mycotoxins was very low (only 3 positive samples), and no mutagenic activity was found in bioaerosols. Nevertheless, some fungal strains such as Aspergillus versicolor or Penicillium brevicompactum showed toxigenic potential in vitro.
authors.affiliation: CETAPS EA 3832, Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, 76821, Mont Saint Aignan cedex, France.|Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 14076, Caen cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heutte
authors.affiliation: ABTE EA 4651, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, 14000, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: André
authors.affiliation: Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 14076, Caen cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubos Arvis
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Labéo Frank Duncombe, 14000, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bouchart
authors.affiliation: Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 14076, Caen cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lemarié
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Labéo Frank Duncombe, 14000, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Legendre
authors.affiliation: ABTE EA 4651, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, 14000, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Edwige
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Votier
authors.affiliation: Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 14076, Caen cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Yolande
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.affiliation: Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 14076, Caen cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madelaine
authors.affiliation: ABTE EA 4651, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, 14000, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Séguin
authors.affiliation: ABTE EA 4651, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, 14000, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gente
authors.affiliation: ABTE EA 4651, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, 14000, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vérité
authors.affiliation: ABTE EA 4651, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, 14000, Caen, France. david.garon@unicaen.fr.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garon
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005602:France; D005658:Fungi; D005936:Glucans / Q000032:analysis*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D009369:Neoplasms; D010407:Penicillium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004731:Endotoxins; D005936:Glucans; D009183:Mycotoxins
keywords: Air monitoring; Bioaerosols; Cancer treatment center; Mold; Mycotoxins