TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of the microbial contamination in “Do It Yourself” (DIY) stores
T2 - a holistic approach to protect workers’ and consumers’ health
AU - Dias, Marta
AU - Gomes, Bianca
AU - Pena, Pedro
AU - Cervantes, Renata
AU - Gonçalves, Sara
AU - Carolino, Elisabete
AU - Twarużek, Magdalena
AU - Kosicki, Robert
AU - Ałtyn, Iwona
AU - Caetano, Liliana Aranha
AU - Viegas, Susana
AU - Viegas, Carla
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This project was supported by FCT/MCTES UIDP/05608/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/05608/2020) and UIDB/05608/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/05608/2020). This work is also supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES/FSE/UE, 2023.01366.BD; UI/BD/153746/2022 and CE3C unit UIDB/00329/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/00329/2020); UI/BD/151431/2021 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UI/BD/151431/2021); and Instituto Polit\u00E9cnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal for funding the Projects IPL/IDI&CA2024/WWTPSValor_ESTeSL and IPL/IDI&CA2024/MycoSOS_ESTeSL.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Dias, Gomes, Pena, Cervantes, Gonçalves, Carolino, Twarużek, Kosicki, Ałtyn, Caetano, Viegas and Viegas.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Introduction: In “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) stores, workers from the wood department are considered woodworkers. Given the health risks associated with woodworking, particularly from fungi and their metabolites, this study aims to assess microbial contamination and health risks for both workers and customers. Methods: The study was developed in 13 DIY stores in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. It employed a comprehensive sampling approach combining active (MAS-100, Andersen six-stage, Coriolis μ, and SKC Button Aerosol Sampler) and passive (electrostatic dust collectors, surface swabs, e-cloths, settled dust, filters from vacuumed dust, filtering respiratory protection devices, and mechanical protection gloves) methods to assess microbial contamination. A Lighthouse Handheld Particle Counter HH3016- IAQ was used to monitor the particulate matter size, temperature, and humidity. Results: The wood exhibition area presented the highest fungal load, while the payment area exhibited the highest bacterial load. MAS-100 detected the highest fungal load, and surface swabs had the highest bacterial load. Penicillium sp. was the most frequently observed fungal species, followed by Aspergillus sp. Mycotoxins, namely mycophenolic acid, griseofulvin, and aflatoxin G1, were detected in settled dust samples and one filter from the vacuum cleaner from the wood exhibition area. Cytotoxicity evaluation indicates the wood-cutting area has the highest cytotoxic potential. Correlation analysis highlights relationships between fungal contamination and particle size and biodiversity differences among sampling methods. Discussion: The comprehensive approach applied, integrating numerous sampling methods and laboratory assays, facilitated a thorough holistic analysis of this specific environment, enabling Occupational and Public Health Services to prioritize interventions for accurate exposure assessment and detailed risk management.
AB - Introduction: In “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) stores, workers from the wood department are considered woodworkers. Given the health risks associated with woodworking, particularly from fungi and their metabolites, this study aims to assess microbial contamination and health risks for both workers and customers. Methods: The study was developed in 13 DIY stores in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. It employed a comprehensive sampling approach combining active (MAS-100, Andersen six-stage, Coriolis μ, and SKC Button Aerosol Sampler) and passive (electrostatic dust collectors, surface swabs, e-cloths, settled dust, filters from vacuumed dust, filtering respiratory protection devices, and mechanical protection gloves) methods to assess microbial contamination. A Lighthouse Handheld Particle Counter HH3016- IAQ was used to monitor the particulate matter size, temperature, and humidity. Results: The wood exhibition area presented the highest fungal load, while the payment area exhibited the highest bacterial load. MAS-100 detected the highest fungal load, and surface swabs had the highest bacterial load. Penicillium sp. was the most frequently observed fungal species, followed by Aspergillus sp. Mycotoxins, namely mycophenolic acid, griseofulvin, and aflatoxin G1, were detected in settled dust samples and one filter from the vacuum cleaner from the wood exhibition area. Cytotoxicity evaluation indicates the wood-cutting area has the highest cytotoxic potential. Correlation analysis highlights relationships between fungal contamination and particle size and biodiversity differences among sampling methods. Discussion: The comprehensive approach applied, integrating numerous sampling methods and laboratory assays, facilitated a thorough holistic analysis of this specific environment, enabling Occupational and Public Health Services to prioritize interventions for accurate exposure assessment and detailed risk management.
KW - DIY stores
KW - fungi
KW - occupational exposure assessment
KW - wood dust
KW - woodworkers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208483092&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1483281
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1483281
M3 - Article
C2 - 39494078
AN - SCOPUS:85208483092
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 12
JO - Frontiers in public health
JF - Frontiers in public health
M1 - 1483281
ER -