Airborne fungi in biofuel wood chip storage sites

摘要: Abstract An experimental biofuel wood chip storage site was studied, as a potential fungal “reservoir,” by means of quantitative and qualitative assessments airborne spores. Fungal load in the bio-aerosol, determined through active passive methods, declined with distance from piles. Occupational exposure comparatively evaluated when two specific operational tasks, manual mechanized handling, were performed. Under conditions tested, operators more exposed to spores (4864 ± 580 CFU m−3 air). The collected identified belonging species genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Pleospora, Cochliobolus, Epicoccum, Absidia, Trichoderma. Most prevalent Alternaria highest percentages occurrence (30 12%, respectively). To best our knowledge, this is first work reporting identification molecular methods fungi released during handling biomass.