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Document ID (ISN)103366
CIS number 04-467
ISSN - Serial title 1232-1966 - AAEM - Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
Year 2003
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Desai M.R., Ghosh S.K.
Title Occupational exposure to airborne fungi among rice mill workers with special reference to aflatoxin producing A. flavus strains
Bibliographic information 2003, Vol.10, No.2, p.159-162. Illus. 19 ref.
Internet access http://www.aaem.pl/pdf/10159.pdf [in English]
Abstract This study was undertaken to evaluate workers' exposure to mycoflora in rice mills in an Indian region. The airborne fungal communities were isolated and identified quantitatively. Of all the isolates, genus Aspergillus was predominant and among the Aspergillus species, A. flavus was the common isolate, irrespective of the method applied for sample collection. The number of isolates recovered from exposed workplaces was significantly greater than in control areas. The percentage of aflatoxin positive strains of A. flavus was 8%. Surface morphology of aflatoxin positive strains was studied by scanning electron microscopy. High concentrations of total and respirable dust concentrations were found in the exposed workplaces, whereas in the stores only the total dust concentration was significantly higher than in control areas. The study indicates that rice mill workers are occupationally exposed to airborne aflatoxin producing strains of A. flavus and should be equipped with protective masks.
Descriptors (primary) India; aflatoxins; milling industry; respiratory diseases; biological hazards; rice
Descriptors (secondary) mycotoxins; organic dust; supply of personal protective equipment; exposure evaluation; respirators; hazard evaluation
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceIndia
Subject(s) Food, beverage and tobacco industries
Broad subject area(s) Biological hazards
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)
Food industry
Biological hazards