We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Characterization and Human Health Risk Assessment of Fungal Species Isolated from Landfill Soil in Najaf Ashraf, Iraq
Summary
Researchers isolated fungal species from microplastic surfaces collected in environmental samples and characterized their diversity and human health risks, finding that certain opportunistic fungal pathogens were enriched on plastic surfaces compared to surrounding water and sediment.
Abstract This study aimed to assess the potential human health hazards associated with fungal soil contamination, particularly in waste disposal and landfill areas. Soil, nail, hair, and skin samples were collected from thirteen sites in Najaf Ashraf, Iraq, between March and May 2023. Nine fungal species were identified: Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. glaucus, Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp., Syncephalastrum sp., and Cladosporium allicinum. Fungal counts in soil ranged from 40 to 5280 ± 3 CFU, with the highest count in site 2 and the lowest in site 12. In human samples, fungal counts varied: hair (0-1360 ± 2 CFU), nails (0-600 ± 1 CFU), and skin (40–680 ± 2 CFU). Aspergillus niger was the dominant species across all samples. Notably, the fungal species detected in human samples were consistent with those found in the soil, supporting the hypothesis of environmental transmission of these potentially hazardous biological contaminants.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Fungal plastiphily and its link to generic virulence traits makes environmental microplastics a global health factor
This meta-analysis reveals that microplastics in soil serve as hotspots where disease-causing fungi accumulate and thrive. The findings are concerning because many of the fungi that colonize microplastics share traits with human pathogens, suggesting that plastic pollution may be creating new breeding grounds for infectious disease in the environment.
The Culturable Mycobiota of Sediments and Associated Microplastics: From a Harbor to a Marine Protected Area, a Comparative Study
Researchers investigated fungal diversity in sediments and microplastic surfaces at three Mediterranean sites with varying anthropogenic impact -- a harbor, a marine protected area, and an intermediate site -- culturing 1,526 isolates and finding that microplastics harbor distinct fungal assemblages compared to surrounding sediments, with several species recorded for the first time in marine environments.
Microplastics accumulate fungal pathogens in terrestrial ecosystems
Microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems serve as selective microhabitats that accumulate distinct fungal communities, including opportunistic human pathogens such as cryptococcal and Phoma-like species, making plastic waste a persistent reservoir and potential vector for fungal infections in soil environments.
Plastiphily is linked to generic virulence traits of important human pathogenic fungi
A study of soil near human dwellings found that microplastics selectively attract and concentrate dangerous fungal pathogens, including species that cause serious human infections. The microplastic surfaces essentially act as tiny habitats where disease-causing fungi accumulate and may develop enhanced survival traits. This suggests that the trillions of microplastic particles in soil could be amplifying the spread of fungal infections, adding a new dimension to microplastic health risks.
Fungal plastiphily and its link to generic virulence traits makes environmental microplastics a global health factor
This meta-analysis reveals that fungi, including species that cause human infections, are attracted to microplastics in the environment. Microplastics provide tiny habitats where disease-causing fungi can accumulate and potentially evolve, suggesting that the trillions of microplastic particles in our environment may be increasing our exposure to fungal pathogens.