Biological risk assessment in the History and Historical Documentation Library of the University of Milan

Biodeterioration Risk Assessment in Libraries by Airborne Fungal Spores

Fungal growth on cellulose-based materials in libraries can have detrimental effects on books and documents. This biodeterioration affects their physical, chemical, and esthetical characteristics. Thus, this work aimed to assess fungal aerosols' concentrations and biodeterioration risk in two public libraries with artificial ventilation: the Banco de la República and CAJAMAG libraries. Air sampling was performed using a two-stage viable Andersen cascade impactor with Sabouraud dextrose agar at 4% on Petri dishes. Also, the temperature and relative humidity were measured with a digital thermo-hygrometer HOBO U12 Data Logger. The concentrations were low, with values of around 35 CFU/m3. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium were the predominant genera in the two libraries, with A. niger being the most abundant species. The thermo-hygrometric conditions inside the libraries were stable, with a mean temperature of 25.2 °C and a mean relative humidity of 52.1%. The calculated potential risk associated with fungal aerosols was seen to be medium in both libraries, where Aspergillus genera reported the highest cellulosic activity and hence had a higher risk of biodeterioration.

Insights into uncovered public health risks. The case of asthma attacks among archival workers: a cross-sectional study

Objective

To ascertain the prevalence of asthma attacks among archivists and identify the associated occupational factors in this understudied professional population.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study among 1,002 archival workers. A multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify the association between asthma attacks and occupational exposures. The Strobe Protocol was applied.

Results

999 workers were included in the final analysis with the asthma prevalence of 33.3%. Main factors associated with asthma attacks (OR [95% CI]) were the presence of chemically irritating odors (2.152 [1.532-3.024]), mold odors (1.747 [1.148-2.658]), and insects (1.409[1.041-1.907]). A significant synergistic effect was observed between chemical irritants and mold, the odds ratio was 7.098 (95% CI, 4.752-10.603).

Conclusion

There was a high prevalence of asthma attacks among archival workers, an under-studied population. Chemical irritants, molds and insects were associated with their asthma attacks. Notably, this study's data analysis has revealed a strong synergy (OR = 7.098) between chemical odors and molds in the workplace. While the existing international literature on this specific interaction remains somewhat limited, previous studies have already demonstrated the potential for chemical irritants, such as sulfur dioxide and ozone, to synergistically interact with inhalable allergens, including fungi, molds and dust mites. Consequently, this interaction seems to exacerbate asthma symptoms and perpetuate untreated exposure. Furthermore, in damp and damaged buildings, the presence of microbial components, such as cellular debris or spores released during fungal growth can trigger an inflammatory response, potentially served as a shared pathway for the development of asthma among individuals exposed to these hazardous factors.

Catch of Reesa vespulae in Heritage Environments

The skin beetle Reesa vespulae is regularly found beyond North America where it originated. The larvae cause considerable concern in museums, as they damage hides or furs in addition to being a special source of damage to collections of dried plants in herbaria or collections of insects and other zoological specimens. Reesa vespulae arrived in Europe in the mid-20th century and was associated mostly with stored food products, but over time, it has become recognised as a museum pest. Although it is still uncommon and may only be observed in a small fraction of museums, when the insect is found in large numbers, it can cause problems. Catches from blunder traps in Austrian museums and from an online database in the UK were used to track changing concern over the insect. As a single female beetle can continue to reproduce because the species is parthenogenetic, its presence can persist over long periods of time. Although small populations in museums are typically found in the adult form, the larval forms are more common where a site is infested by high numbers, perhaps because the larvae and adults must range more widely for food. Although R. vespulae can be controlled using pesticides, it is also possible to kill the larvae within infested materials through freezing or anoxia.

Environmental factors and particle size shape the community structure of airborne total and pathogenic bacteria in a university campus

Given the dense population on university campuses, indoor and outdoor airborne bacterial contamination may lead to the rapid spread of diseases in a university environment. However, there are few studies of the characteristics of airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities in different sites on a university campus. In this study, we collected particulate matter samples from indoor and outdoor locations at a university in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, China, and analyzed the community characteristics of airborne and pathogenic bacteria using a high-throughput sequencing technique. The results showed that the composition of the dominant airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities was consistent among sites at the phylum and genus levels, with differences in their relative abundance. There were significant differences in the structure of the airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities between indoor and outdoor sites (p < 0.05). An analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) indicated that the structure of airborne bacterial communities in indoor sites was influenced by the room occupancy rate, ventilation conditions, and the extent of indoor furnishing (p < 0.05), while the structure of pathogenic bacterial communities was influenced by the number of individuals and spatial dimensions (p < 0.05). The impact of particle size on the structure of airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities was relatively minor. A total of 194 suspected pathogenic bacterial species were identified, accounting for 0.0001-1.3923% of the total airborne bacteria, all of which were conditional pathogens. Among them, Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, Acinetobacter johnsonii, and Moraxella osloensis exhibited relatively high relative abundance, accounting for 24.40, 16.22, and 8.66% of the total pathogenic bacteria, respectively. Moreover, 18 emerging or re-emerging pathogenic bacterial species with significant implications for human health were identified, although their relative abundance was relatively low (0.5098%). The relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria in indoor environments was significantly higher than outdoors, with the laboratory and dormitory having the highest levels. The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for the prevention and control of airborne bacterial contamination and the associated health risks in both a campus environment and other public spaces with high occupancy rates.