Fungal Community Associated with Sawdust of Direct Evaporative Cooler and their Health Impact in Erbil City

Abstract
Evaporative coolers ECs are widely used in semi-arid regions. During operation, mashies pass from outdoors to indoors through wet straws or wood shavings, and these materials act as filters of bio-aerosolized particles. The current work was conducted in Erbil city to screen the fungal community associated with sawdust in ECs and explain the health impact of the predominant genera. Three hundred fifty fungal colonies were counted belonging to 17 identifying isolates beside the sterile mycelia. The highest occurrence and frequency belong to Aspergillus spp. (O=98% and F=33.7%), followed by Cladosporium sp. (O=50% and F=20.6%). Aspergillus spp. have the highest importance value index. Three genera had a moderate incidence, namely, Mucor sp., Alternaria sp., and Penicillium sp. The predominant genera that were isolated from sawdust are common outdoor air mycobiota in the study area and are considered the most effective allergens. Indeed, all recorded genera have a potentially significant effect on human health causing several types of pulmonary disorders and involve in opportunistic infections, especially for immunocompromised patients. We concluded that ECs may act as a source and transmitter of indoor airborne fungi pollution.

Author
Zean Zefenkey

DOI
https://doi.org/10.24086/cuesj.v9n1y2025.pp52-56

Publisher

ISSN
2707-6377

Publish Date: