From m1dorrin@attmail.com Mon Mar 21 14:58:13 1994
Date: 21 Mar 94 18:06:20 GMT
From: Mike Dorrington
To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
Subject: compost spores & health
Can anyone answer below (forwarded) message?
>We are looking for information on the possible health
>effects of a mold spore-- Aspergillus fumigatus-- that is
>associated with composting operations and can also be found
>in the air and in buildings. A study by the New York state
>Dept. of Health came out last week with information
>suggesting that it was not the cause of respiratory or other
>health problems around an Islip Long Island composting
>facility. At the same time the study said composting
>facilities should not be located near hospitals, in
>particular, medical facilities with bone marrow transplant
>operations. If you have any information on this subject,
>please send me an e-mail message. Thanks! -- David Hess,
>Executive Director, Pennsylvania Senate Environmental
>Resources & Energy Committee.
From EVANYLO@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU Mon Mar 21 21:08:14 1994
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 94 15:01:35 EST
From: Greg Evanylo
To: Sust Ag Network
Subject: Response to question on Aspergillus fumigatus
David Hess writes:
>We are looking for information on the possible health
>effects of a mold spore-- Aspergillus fumigatus-- that is
>associated with composting operations and can also be found
>in the air and in buildings. A study by the New York state
>Dept. of Health came out last week with information
>suggesting that it was not the cause of respiratory or other
>health problems around an Islip Long Island composting
>facility. At the same time the study said composting
>facilities should not be located near hospitals, in
>particular, medical facilities with bone marrow transplant
>operations. If you have any information on this subject,
>please send me an e-mail message.
Aspergillus f. is a common fungus found in decaying organic matter and soil
throughout the world - it's spores are airborne and are constantly inhaled.
The fungus is a recognized pathogen of birds, humans and other animals causing
acute or chronic infection primarily of the respiratory tract, viz. aspergillo-
sis. Since A.f. is heat tolerant, it can survive the high temperatures normally
found in the composting process.
Aspergillus f. is an opportunistic fungus or secondary pathogen which invades
and infects debilitated or immunocompromised individuals. Rarely, although
instances have been reported, does the disease infect nondebilitated persons,
thus, the rationale for locating composting facilities away from hospitals
while not ascribing any great health risk to the larger population.
The *common wisdom* is that composting facilities should not present a
threat to healthy workers et al, as long as certain precautions are taken, i.e.
use of biofilters or other air scrubbing systems to reduce dust in contained
areas (e.g. inside screening areas), keep outdoor windrows moist to prevent
dusty conditions, sites should have adequate buffer areas (e.g. separation of
facilities from residences by a wooded area), and screening of workers.
An excellent review of this public health issue has been presented by Eliot
Epstein in the January 1994 issue of Biocycle (pp. 51-57). This should serve
as another reminder that their is risk in most everything, even the most
inocuous and beneficial appearing practices. We must decide how much risk we
are willing to take.
From landel@medsci.udel.edu Mon Mar 21 21:25:00 1994
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 94 18:09:09 EST
From: Carlisle Landel
To: m1dorrin@attmail.com, sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
Subject: compost spores & health
Hi!
Saw your post to bionet. Here is a medline search for the keyword
"compost".
Let me know if you need more.
Search request: FIND KW COMPOST
Search result: 25 citations in the Medline database
To display ABSTRACT, type D ABS.
Type HELP for other display options.
1. Weber S; Kullman G; Petsonk E; Jones WG; Olenchock S; Sorenson W; Parker J;
Marcelo-Baciu R; Frazer D; Castranova V.
Organic dust exposures from compost handling: case presentation and
respiratory exposure assessment.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1993 Oct, 24(4):365-74.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 94070887)
2. Frazer DG; Jones WG; Petsonk EL; Kullman GJ; Barger MW; Afshari A; Jones T;
Castranova V.
Organic dust exposure from compost handling: response of an animal model.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1993 Oct, 24(4):375-85.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 94070888)
3. Watanabe K; Hayano K.
Distribution and identification of proteolytic Bacillus spp. in paddy
field soil under rice cultivation.
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 1993 Jul, 39(7):674-80.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93373156)
4. Miyake H; Takahashi K; Tsuji M; Nagasawa S; Ohta T; Araki T.
[A surgical case of solitary cerebral cysticercosis].
No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery, 1993 Jun, 21(6):561-5.
Language: Japanese.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93330400)
Pub type: Journal Article; Review; Review of Reported Cases.
5. Gronvold J; Wolstrup J; Nansen P; Henriksen SA; Larsen M; Bresciani J.
Biological control of nematode parasites in cattle with nematode-trapping
fungi: a survey of Danish studies.
Veterinary Parasitology, 1993 Jun, 48(1-4):311-25.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93348735)
Pub type: Journal Article; Review; Review, Tutorial.
6. Sporik RB; Arruda LK; Woodfolk J; Chapman MD; Platts-Mills TA.
Environmental exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus allergen (Asp f I).
Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 1993 Apr, 23(4):326-31.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93306526)
7. Van den Bogart HG; Van den Ende G; Van Loon PC; Van Griensven LJ.
Mushroom worker's lung: serologic reactions to thermophilic actinomycetes
present in the air of compost tunnels.
Mycopathologia, 1993 Apr, 122(1):21-8.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93317023)
8. Kirkby G.
Waste management: three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) reduce waste, save
money.
Leadership in Health Services, 1993 Mar-Apr, 2(2):30-3.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93237767)
9. [The use of transgenic animals in the evaluation of the genotoxic properties
of compost chemicals].
Bollettino Chimico Farmaceutico, 1993 Jan, 132(1):32-6.
Language: Italian.
(UI: 93236803)
10. Perry CR; Matcham SE; Wood DA; Thurston CF.
The structure of laccase protein and its synthesis by the commercial
mushroom Agaricus bisporus.
Journal of General Microbiology, 1993 Jan, 139 ( Pt 1):171-8.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93195508)
11. Duncanson E; Gilkes AF; Kirk DW; Sherman A; Wray JL.
nir1, a conditional-lethal mutation in barley causing a defect in nitrite
reduction.
Molecular and General Genetics, 1993 Jan, 236(2-3):275-82.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93173102)
12. Straub TM; Pepper IL; Gerba CP.
Hazards from pathogenic microorganisms in land-disposed sewage sludge.
Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1993, 132:55-91.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93348398)
Pub type: Journal Article; Review; Review, Academic.
13. Some ES.
Household sanitation in Uasin Gishu district in Kenya.
East African Medical Journal, 1992 Nov, 69(11):611-2.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 93223605)
14. Wiegant WM; Wery J; Buitenhuis ET; de Bont JA.
Growth-promoting effect of thermophilic fungi on the mycelium of the
edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 1992 Aug, 58(8):2654-9.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 92384586)
15. Tan EL; Ho CH; Griest WH; Tyndall RL.
Mutagenicity of trinitrotoluene and its metabolites formed during
composting.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 1992 Jul, 36(3):165-75.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 92333608)
16. Lemmon CR; Pylypiw HM Jr.
Degradation of diazinon, chlorpyrifos, isofenphos, and pendimethalin in
grass and compost.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1992 Mar,
48(3):409-15.
(UI: 92330208)
17. Rouchaud J; Gustin F; Benoit F; Ceustermans N; Gillet J; Van de Steene F;
Pelerents C.
Influence of cow manure and composts on the effects of chlorfenvinphos on
field crops.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1992 Jan,
22(1):122-9.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 92206889)
18. Elnaiem DE; Ward RD.
Oviposition attractants and stimulants for the sandfly Lutzomyia
longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae).
Journal of Medical Entomology, 1992 Jan, 29(1):5-12.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 92203275)
19. Amner W; McCarthy AJ; Edwards C.
Survival of a plasmid-bearing strain of Bacillus subtilis introduced into
compost.
Journal of General Microbiology, 1991 Aug, 137 ( Pt 8):1931-7.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 92065254)
20. Cox AL; van den Bogart HG; Folgering HT; van Griensven LJ.
[Mushroom growers' lung; clinical diagnosis and treatment].
Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 1991 Jun 8, 135(23):1040-4.
Language: Dutch.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 91287855)
21. Pope CW.
Poultry production's environmental impact on water quality.
Poultry Science, 1991 May, 70(5):1123-5.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 91305247)
Pub type: Journal Article; Review; Review, Tutorial.
22. Festy B.
[Some aspects of the management of house-hold refuse].
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 1991, 49(3):115-26.
Language: French.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 92027349)
23. Shen YE; Kurup VP; Fink JN.
Circulating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes in farmers and
mushroom workers.
Journal of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Microbiology and Immunology, 1991,
35(3):309-16.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 92071562)
24. Jorgensen PL; Hansen CK.
Multiple endo-beta-1,4-glucanase-encoding genes from Bacillus lautus
PL236 and characterization of the celB gene.
Gene, 1990 Sep 1, 93(1):55-60.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 91033016)
25. Perez CM; Juliano BO; De Datta SK; Amarante ST.
Effects of nitrogen fertilizer treatment and source and season on grain
quality of IR64 rice.
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 1990 Apr, 40(2):123-30.
ABSTRACT available. (UI: 90349533)
***********
Regards,
Carlisle Landel
Dept. Medical Cell Biology
A.I. duPont Institute
PO Box 269
Wilmington DE 19899
(302) 651-6873
landel@helios.medsci.udel.edu
From london@calypso-2 Tue Mar 22 09:08:48 1994
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 1994 09:07:51 -0500 (EST)
From: Larry London
To: sanet-mg@twosocks.ces.ncsu.edu
Subject: Compost spores and health (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 94 06:45:00 +0600
From: Jim Mcnelly
To: LONDON@SUNSITE.UNC.EDU
Subject: Compost spores and health
This message was from JIM MCNELLY to ALL
originally in conference bionet.genera on GRANITE (Granite City BBS)
and was forwarded to you by JIM MCNELLY
>To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
>Subject: compost spores & health
>Can anyone answer below (forwarded) message?
>>We are looking for information on the possible health
>>effects of a mold spore-- Aspergillus fumigatus-- that is
>>associated with composting operations and can also be found
>>in the air and in buildings. A study by the New York state
>>Dept. of Health came out last week with information
>>suggesting that it was not the cause of respiratory or other
>>health problems around an Islip Long Island composting
>>facility. At the same time the study said composting
>>facilities should not be located near hospitals, in
>>particular, medical facilities with bone marrow transplant
>>operations. If you have any information on this subject,
>>please send me an e-mail message. Thanks! -- David Hess,
>>Executive Director, Pennsylvania Senate Environmental
>>Resources & Energy Committee.
There was no e-mail address attached from David Hess, so let me pass on
what I know on the subject.
Certain individuals are allergic to aspergillus fumigatus, and will
develop allergies including respiratory ailments if exposed repeatedly.
A.F. is ubiquitous in dust, animal manures, soil, leaf mould, grain, or
any concentration of organic matter that is dry. The pathway of
ingestion is through the lungs.
Individuals that are immunosuppressive (Aids) can have extreme reactions
to aspergillus exposure, which was the case cited at the Islip facility.
The best compendium of data I am aware of was gathered by
representatives of the Composting Council of Alexandria, VA, at
703-739-2401. There are also summaries of the topic in BioCycle
Magazine over the last two years.
As a composting professional, I take the issue very seriously. While
99% of the population is not allergic to A.F., enough are to cause me to
design composting facilities such that there is no outdoor agitation or
screening, both of which cause fugitive dust. This may eliminate many
low technology composting facilities as a result.
The issue, however, appears to be a "red herring" used by forces that
have a financial stake in the resumption of ocean dumping of sewage
sludge by eastern seaboard cities. By using this issue in an attempt to
discredit all forms of composting, poor science and false association is
being linked to promote alternatives.
The A.F. issue, such as San Jose, California, is also being used to
close composting facilities in actions I believe may be driven by
property rights and NIMBY factions, not health concerns.
Ultimately, if we are going to close composting sites entirely due to
the A.F. problem, we will also have to cease mowing lawns, raking
leaves, allowing manure on farms, and all manner of other silliness.
The only significantly affected individual is the victim of Aids, and in
this case, I believe that it is more prudent to relocate these
individuals than to relocate expensive capital facilities.
Jim~ McNelly
ReSourceNet and GardenNet 612-654-8372, 656-0678 v.32bis
jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org
---
* March 22nd - LOOK! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...no, it's a bird.
From UT@ibt.dth.dk Wed Mar 23 08:32:56 1994
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 12:14:05
From: Ulf Thrane
To: london@sunSITE.unc.edu
Subject: Re: Compost spores and health.
> Date: 21 Mar 1994 20:18:10 GMT
> From: london@sunSITE.unc.edu (Larry London)
> Reply-to: london@sunSITE.unc.edu (Larry London)
> To: "bionet.mycology mail newsgroup"
> Subject: Compost spores and health.
> >From m1dorrin@attmail.com Mon Mar 21 14:58:13 1994
> Date: 21 Mar 94 18:06:20 GMT
> From: Mike Dorrington
> To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
> Subject: compost spores & health
>
> Can anyone answer below (forwarded) message?
>
> >We are looking for information on the possible health
> >effects of a mold spore-- Aspergillus fumigatus-- that is
> >associated with composting operations and can also be found
> >in the air and in buildings. A study by the New York state
> >Dept. of Health came out last week with information
> >suggesting that it was not the cause of respiratory or other
> >health problems around an Islip Long Island composting
> >facility. At the same time the study said composting
> >facilities should not be located near hospitals, in
> >particular, medical facilities with bone marrow transplant
> >operations. If you have any information on this subject,
> >please send me an e-mail message. Thanks! -- David Hess,
> >Executive Director, Pennsylvania Senate Environmental
> >Resources & Energy Committee.
>
Aspergillus fumigatus is well-known as a human patogen and has been
reported from several human organs (e.g. lungs, stomach, urine
system) - more detailed info can be retrieved in the medical
mycological literature.
ulf
=====================================================================
| Ulf Thrane |
| The Mycology Group Phone: +45 4593 3066 |
| Department of Biotechnology - 221 (direct): +45 4593 1222 x2630 |
| The Technical University Fax: +45 4288 4922 |
| DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark InterNet: ut@ibt.dth.dk |
=====================================================================
|
|
Disclaimer: The file contained in the
box above or displayed in a separate window from a link in the
box above is NOT owned nor implied to
be owned by BeYoND THe iLLuSioN. Most files at BeYoND THe
iLLuSioN are originally from public Bulletin Board Systems
(BBS) which were popular in the days before the Internet or
from gopher, web, and FTP sites from the early days of the
Internet which no longer exist today. Essentially, all files
were acquired from the public domain in one for or another.
However, there have been occasions when copyright protected
material has appeared on BeYoND THe iLLuSIoN without permission
of the copyright holder. In these instances, we have and will
continue to remove the copyright protected file as soon as it
is brought to our attention. This can now be done using our Report Copyright Material form. Fill
out the form, and the webmaster will be notified of the
situation.
There are also times when files found on BeYoND THe iLLuSioN
have a real home somewhere else on the Internet. In these
instances, we will gladly replace the file with a link to its
true home whenever it is brought to our attention. If you know
of the true home of any of these files, you can use our Report Original URL form to bring it yo our
attention.
|
