Adhikari Atin, Jung Jaehee, Reponen Tiina, Lewis Jocelyn Suzanne, DeGrasse Enjoli C, Grimsley L Faye, Chew Ginger L, Grinshpun Sergey A
Center for Health-Related Aerosol Studies, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 670056, 3223 Eden Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA.
Environ Res. 2009 Apr;109(3):215-24. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2008.12.010. Epub 2009 Feb 8.
Standing water and sediments remaining on flood-affected materials were the breeding ground for many microorganisms in flooded homes following Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of this laboratory study was to examine the aerosolization of culturable and total fungi, (1-->3)-beta-D glucan, and endotoxin from eight flood-affected floor and bedding materials collected in New Orleans homes, following Hurricane Katrina. Aerosolization was examined using the Fungal Spore Source Strength Tester (FSSST) connected to a BioSampler. Dust samples were collected by vacuuming. A two-stage cyclone sampler was used for size-selective analysis of aerosolized glucan and endotoxin. On average, levels of culturable fungi ranged from undetectable (lower limit=8.3 x 10(4)) to 2.6 x 10(5) CFU/m(2); total fungi ranged from 2.07 x 10(5) to 1.6 x 10(6) spores/m(2); (1-->3)-beta-D glucan and endotoxin were 2.0 x 10(3) - 2.9 x 10(4) ng/m(2) and 7.0 x 10(2) - 9.3 x 10(4) EU/m(2), respectively. The results showed that 5-15 min sampling is sufficient for detecting aerosolizable biocontaminants with the FSSST. Smaller particle size fractions (<1.0 and <1.8 microm) have levels of glucan and endotoxin comparable to larger (>1.8 microm) fractions, which raises additional exposure concerns. Vacuuming was found to overestimate inhalation exposure risks by a factor of approximately 10(2) for (1-->3)-beta-D glucan and by 10(3)-10(4) for endotoxin as detected by the FSSST. The information generated from this study is important with respect to restoration and rejuvenation of the flood-affected areas in New Orleans. We believe the findings will be significant during similar disasters in other regions of the world including major coastal floods from tsunamis.
卡特里娜飓风过后，受洪水影响的材料上残留的积水和沉积物成为了新奥尔良市受灾房屋中许多微生物的滋生地。本实验室研究的目的是检测卡特里娜飓风过后从新奥尔良市房屋中收集的八种受洪水影响的地板和床上用品材料中可培养真菌、总真菌、（1→3）-β-D葡聚糖和内毒素的气溶胶化情况。使用连接到生物采样器的真菌孢子源强度测试仪（FSSST）检测气溶胶化情况。通过吸尘收集灰尘样本。使用两级旋风采样器对气溶胶化的葡聚糖和内毒素进行粒径选择性分析。可培养真菌的平均水平范围为未检测到（下限=8.3×10⁴）至2.6×10⁵CFU/m²；总真菌范围为2.07×10⁵至1.6×10⁶孢子/m²；（1→3）-β-D葡聚糖和内毒素分别为2.0×10³ - 2.9×10⁴ ng/m²和7.0×10² - 9.3×10⁴ EU/m²。结果表明，使用FSSST进行5 - 15分钟的采样足以检测可气溶胶化的生物污染物。较小粒径部分（<1.0和<1.8微米）的葡聚糖和内毒素水平与较大粒径部分（>1.8微米）相当，这引发了更多的暴露担忧。研究发现，通过FSSST检测，吸尘会使吸入暴露风险对（1→3）-β-D葡聚糖高估约10²倍，对内毒素高估10³ - 10⁴倍。本研究得出的信息对于新奥尔良市受洪水影响地区的恢复和复兴具有重要意义。我们相信，这些发现在世界其他地区的类似灾害中，包括海啸引发的重大沿海洪水期间，也将具有重要意义。
