Aspergillus hazardous problem in ceramic workers

Toxicity studies of Aspergillus fumigatus administered by inhalation to B6C3F1/N mice (revised)

Aspergillus fumigatus is a thermotolerant, soil-borne fungal species that is ubiquitous in the environment. Mold was nominated to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) by a private individual due to suspected adverse health effects associated with personal exposure in indoor and occupational settings. A. fumigatus is of particular concern in the biowaste industry as the species can contaminate self-heating compost piles. Because of this potential for personal and occupational exposure and the lack of available toxicity data, toxicity studies were conducted in which male and female B6C3F1/N mice were exposed to A. fumigatus conidia (spores) two times a week for 3 months. All in-life procedures, including inhalation exposure, test article preparation, and hematology analysis, were completed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, Morgantown, WV). Battelle (Columbus, OH) conducted terminal necropsies, measured terminal body and organ weights, and evaluated gross lesions on-site at NIOSH. Tissue processing and histopathology were completed at Battelle. Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) staining was performed at NIOSH. Genetic toxicology studies on mouse peripheral blood erythrocytes were conducted by Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC (Research Triangle Park, NC). (Abstract Abridged).