title: Fungal monitoring of the indoor air of the Museo de La Plata Herbarium, Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biological agents, such as fungal spores in the air in places where scientific collections are stored, can attack and deteriorate them.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to gather information on the indoor air quality of the Herbarium of Vascular Plants of the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata, Argentina, in relation to fungal propagules and inert particles.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was made using a volumetric system and two complementary sampling methods: (1) a non-viable method for direct evaluation, and (2) a viable method by culture for viable fungal propagules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The non-viable method led to ten spore morphotypes being found from related fungal sources. A total of 4401.88spores/m3and 32135.18 inert suspended particles/m3were recorded. The viable method led to the finding of nine fungal taxa as viable spores that mostly belonged to anamorphic forms of Ascomycota, although the pigmented yeast Rhodotorula F.C. Harrison (Basidiomycota) was also found. A total count of 40,500fungal CFU/m3air was estimated for all the sites sampled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the non-viable and viable sampling methods were necessary to monitor the bio-aerosol load in the La Plata Herbarium. The indoor air of this institution seems to be reasonably adequate for the conservation of vascular plants due to the low indoor/outdoor index, low concentrations of air spores, and/or lack of indicators of moisture problems.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Palinología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina; Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), Argentina. Electronic address: malloa2001@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mallo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Argentina.
authors.forename: Lorena A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Elíades
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Palinología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Argentina.
authors.forename: Daniela S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Nitiu
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina; Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal, Argentina; Cátedra de Microbiología Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Argentina.
authors.forename: Mario C N
authors.initials: MCN
authors.lastname: Saparrat
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D001118:Argentina; D001901:Botany; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000072506:Gardens; D009144:Museums; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Aire interior; Biological collections; Colecciones biológicas; Esporas fúngicas; Fungal spores; Herbario La Plata; Indoor airborne fungi; La Plata Herbarium; Muestreos viable y no viable; Viable and non-viable methods