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Assessment of multi-contaminant exposure in a cancer treatment center: a 2-year monitoring of molds, mycotoxins, endotoxins, and glucans in bioaerosols

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 189, Article number: 31 (2017) Cite this article

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 m3 of 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.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Miss Anne El Kaddoumi for her technical assistance. We would also like to acknowledge Margaret Dearing for improving the English of the manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. CETAPS EA 3832, Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, 76821, Mont Saint Aignan cedex, France

    Natacha Heutte

  2. Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer François Baclesse, 14076, Caen cedex 05, France

    Natacha Heutte, Catherine Dubos Arvis, Françoise Lemarié, Marie-Yolande Louis & Stéphane Madelaine

  3. ABTE EA 4651, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, 14000, Caen, France

    Véronique André, Edwige Votier, Virginie Séguin, Stéphanie Gente, Philippe Vérité & David Garon

  4. Laboratoire Labéo Frank Duncombe, 14000, Caen, France

    Valérie Bouchart & Patrick Legendre

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  1. Natacha Heutte
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  2. Véronique André
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  3. Catherine Dubos Arvis
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  4. Valérie Bouchart
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  5. Françoise Lemarié
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  7. Edwige Votier
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  10. Virginie Séguin
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  13. David Garon
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Correspondence to David Garon.

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The study has been supported by the Program Primequal and financed by the Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (ADEME).

We would like to thank the staff of the Centre François Baclesse.

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Heutte, N., André, V., Dubos Arvis, C. et al. Assessment of multi-contaminant exposure in a cancer treatment center: a 2-year monitoring of molds, mycotoxins, endotoxins, and glucans in bioaerosols. Environ Monit Assess 189, 31 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5751-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5751-z

Keywords

  • Air monitoring
  • Bioaerosols
  • Cancer treatment center
  • Mold
  • Mycotoxins