Padilla-Luciano, Yanitza

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Presencia de hongos miceliales termotolerantes y termofílicos en el vertedero de Lajas, Puerto Rico, prestando especial interés a Aspergillus fumigatus
(2004) Padilla-Luciano, Yanitza; Maldonado-Ramírez, Sandra L.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Navas, Vivian; Santos, Carlos; Department of Biology; Brunner, Bryan
Waste handling processes at a landfill facility may result in bioaerosol emissions, including several types of fungal spores. Thermotolerant and thermophilic fungi associated with the composting process at a waste handling facility in Lajas, Puerto Rico, were quantified and identified. Two seasons of the year, summer ("June-August") and winter ("December-February"), were investigated. For the primary isolation of fungi, Petri dishes containing Littman's Oxgall were exposed for 30 minutes and a two stage Andersen sampler was used. Fungi were identified using macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, and the appropiate taxonomic keys. The isolated fungi were Aspergillus fumigatus, Humicola lanuginosa, Rhizomucor pusillus, Chrysosporium tropicum and Aspergillus candidus. Aspergillus fumigatus was the most frequent fungi collected in both seasons. A significant correlation was obtained between meteorological variables, such as soil temperature, soil humidity and wind velocity and viable spore concentration collected by Petri dishes.