Seasonal diversity of biodeteriogenic, pathogenic, and toxigenic constituents of airborne mycobiota in a sacral environment

  • Nikola Unković University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology
  • Ivica Dimkić University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Department for Microbiology, Belgrade
  • Slaviša Stanković University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Department for Microbiology, Belgrade
  • Aleksa Jelikić Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia, Conservation and Restoration Department with Physico-chemical Laboratory, Belgrade
  • Dragan Stanojević Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia, Conservation and Restoration Department with Physico-chemical Laboratory, Belgrade
  • Slađana Popović University of Belgrade - Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Ecology and Technoeconomics, Belgrade
  • Miloš Stupar University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Department for Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Belgrade
  • Jelena Vukojević University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Department for Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Belgrade
  • Milica Ljaljević Grbić University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Department for Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Belgrade
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2018-69-3194
Keywords: airborne fungi, Aspergillus, biodeteriogens, contamination, indoor microclimate, mycotoxins, pathogens, Penicillium

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to isolate airborne fungi and assess seasonal variations in air contamination with their particulates by determining the levels of their propagules in the nave and exonarthex of a church. We also monitored indoor microclimate as a determining factor for fungal proliferation on wall paintings, spore release, and transmission through the air. The temperature and relative humidity of the nave favoured fungal growth. A total of 33 fungi were isolated, mainly of the phylum Ascomycota, and to the lesser extent of the phyla Zygomycota and Basidiomycota. The most common were the fungi of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus (23.55 % and 20.58 %, respectively). Sørensen’s quotient of similarity (0.37) suggests moderate species overlap and constant exchange of fungal propagules between the nave and exonarthex. The autumn had the highest diversity, with 17 documented taxa, followed by the summer and the winter. The spring had only eight taxa. Quantitative analysis of the airborne mycobiota in the nave (430±84.85 to 1880±106.07 CFU m-3) and exonarthex (715±59.62 to 2295±91.92 CFU m-3) showed very high contamination throughout the year, with values exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations by most standards. Many of the fungi determined in this study are known for their biodeteriogenic, toxigenic, and allergenic properties, and are a threat not only to occasional visitors and staff, but also to valuable works of art decorating nave walls.

Published
2018-11-29
How to Cite
1.
Unković N, Dimkić I, Stanković S, Jelikić A, Stanojević D, Popović S, Stupar M, Vukojević J, Ljaljević Grbić M. Seasonal diversity of biodeteriogenic, pathogenic, and toxigenic constituents of airborne mycobiota in a sacral environment. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol [Internet]. 2018Nov.29 [cited 2024Apr.16];69(4). Available from: https://arhiv.imi.hr/index.php/arhiv/article/view/1025
Issue
Vol 69 No 4 (2018)
Section
Original article