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A microbiological investigation of the Sound-SorbTM berm at Oshawa Skeet & Gun Club
Prepared for
GlobalTox Inc.
367 Woodlawn Rd, Unit 6
Guelph ON N1H 7K9
Prepared by
James Scott, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept of Public Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto
Laboratory Director
Sporometrics Inc.
July, 2003
Background
Oshawa Skeet & Gun Club (OSGC) is located at the base of the Oak Ridges Moraine, on Lots 4 and 5, Concession 9 in the City of Oshawa. The OSGC has a sound attenuation berm constructed with Paper Fibre Biosolids (PFBs), or paper sludge, mixed with sand. The PFB material is obtained from Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd. (APPL) by Courtice Auto Wreckers Ltd., who mix this material on-site with local soil to produce a product they call “Sound-Sorb™”. APPL generates about 700 tonnes of sludge per day at its paper recycling plants in Scarborough and Whitby, Ontario. Local residents groups have expressed concern about potential health hazards presented by this material through generation of bioaerosols. The purpose of the present investigation was to use empirical methods to determine which micro-organisms are present in the berm that have the potential to release bioaerosols from the surface of the berm.
Methods
Physical descriptions of sites visited
i. Oshawa Skeet & Gun Club
This site was visited on November 14, 2002. The OSGC Sound-Sorb™ berm
consists of a crescent-shaped ridge of paper sand-amended fibre-biosolid material
transecting a natural valley. The berm measured approximately 45 m in length
along the interior perimeter and 250 m in length along the exterior perimeter.
The upper surface of the berm had been top-dressed with plant compost. An Ministry
of the Environment (MoE) representative on-site during sampling indicated that
the compost used on the berm had originated from the Harmony Road Compost Site
(HRC) located approximately 2 km NE of the berm.
ii. East Elgin Sportsmen's Association
This site was visited on April 24, 2003. The club is located on County Rd. 40,
approximately 1.4 kilometer north of Hwy 3, and 5 km east of Aylmer, Ontario.
The property is approximately 48 acres in area, and features two 75 meter ranges
and one 350 meter range. The 75 m ranges are adjacent to each other, and surrounded
by a Sound-Sorb™ berm on three sides. The two ranges share a common 75
m wall. The 350 m range shares no common walls with the smaller ranges. The
combined perimeter of the range berms is approximately 1 km. The berm has not
been covered with any plant compost. A club member on site indicated that this
is planned for the future.
iii. Harmony Road Compost Site
This site was visited on April 25, 2003. The Harmony Road Compost Site (HRC)
is located approximately 2 km NE of the OSGC. The facility has many rows of
composted material of various ages and constituencies, and has compost heaps
on both sides of Harmony Rd North. Plant material appears to have been grouped
by types for composting. Woody materials have been separated from leaves and
grass clippings. Also, a de-bagging machine is on-site to remove the plastic
bags from the plant materials before they are heaped for composting. However,
there are many rows of material which were processed prior to the implementation
of the de-bagging machine, and, thus, have a higher plastic content.
iv. Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd.
This site was visited on April 25, 2003. The Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd.
facility (APPL) in Whitby, ON, produces PFB on site. The material is dumped
by conveyor belt onto the floor of an enclosed storage building with two large
access doors at the front. The PFB is removed from this site before it is mixed
with sand to produce Sound-Sorb™.
Sampling protocol
i. Oshawa Skeet & Gun Club
The original concept of the PFB sampling protocol involved the evaluation of
the berm with respect to semi-discrete microhabitats. This procedure required
physical parameters such as temperature, moisture content and pH to be taken
and analyzed during a pilot sampling one to two weeks before biological sampling
in order to estimate homogeneity of the berm and to establish a biological sampling
protocol. This was not possible because access to the berm for sampling purposes
was provided only on two successive days. Therefore, a biological sampling protocol
was developed in the field based on physical observations of the berm. In this
case microhabitats were considered in the berm as a function of sample depth.
Three such theoretical microhabitats were sampled with 15 replicates each. Physical
measurements were taken at each sample site at the same time as biological samples.
These data were used for later comparison with biological sample results to
confirm the validity of sampling assumptions.
Three transects were established perpendicular to long axis of berm. Transects A-C were 60, 70 and 55 m in length, respectively. Each was sampled at 5 equidistant sample sites (i.e. position number). Three bulk samples of approximately 100 g were taken at each site, one each at the surface, 5 cm and 50 cm depth (see Figure 1). Individual sample sites were identified by a unique site number composed of the transect letter and the position number, to which the depth number was appended as a suffix (e.g. B3-2 identifies a sample taken on transect B, position 3 at a depth of 5 cm). Temperature measurements were recorded at each sample site using a portable thermocouple probe (Fisherbrand Traceable Mini-Thermometer, Fisher Scientific, Nepean, Ontario, S/N 221110094).
ii. East Elgin Sportsmen's Association
There were two objectives in sampling from the EESA facility. One objective
was to try to identify and collect any examples of conspicuous fungal growth
on the surface of the berms. This requires the collection of grab samples to
be examined by direct microscopy, and the use of culture techniques, as well,
if needed for identification. The second objective was to collect samples of
Sound-Sorb™ from the surface of the berms, and to culture these samples
using the same methodologies followed for the samples from the OSGC. A single
sample location was selected at the mid-point of each range.
iii. Harmony Road Compost Site
There were two objectives in sampling from the HRC. One objective was to try
to identify and collect any examples of conspicuous fungal growth on the surface
of the compost heaps. This requires the collection of grab samples to be examined
by direct microscopy, and the use of culture techniques, if needed for identification.
The second objective was to collect samples of compost from the surface of the
heaps, and to culture these samples using the same methodologies followed for
the samples from the OSGC. Samples were collected at compost heaps of varying
age and varying predominant vegetation type (eg. grass clippings, leaf litter,
wood).
iv. Atlantic Packaging
There were two objectives in sampling from APPL. One objective was to try to
identify and collect any examples of conspicuous fungal growth on the surface
of the PFB. This requires the collection of grab samples to be examined by direct
microscopy, and the use of culture techniques as well, if needed. The second
objective was to collect a sample of fresh PFB, and to culture the sample using
the same methodologies followed for the samples from the OSGC. A single sample
of fresh PFB was collected from beneath the end of the conveyor belt (while
operational).
Analytical methods
Physical measures
Moisture content was determined by gravimetric measurement of moisture loss
by a subsample of approx. 2 g fresh mass (actual mass recorded) (XE-100, Denver
Instrument Co., Arvada, Colorado, S/N N0110463) dried in oven (HotPack, Waterloo,
Ontario) at 65-70°C to constant mass (~ 2 days). For pH measurements, a
subsample of approximately 1 g of oven-dried material (as above) was ground
to fine powder by pestle and mortar and rehydrated in 50 mL distilled deionized
water by gentle agitation on orbital shaker for 30 min. The pH was determined
at room temperature using a liquid-filled polymer body combination pH/ ATC electrode
with a calomel reference element (Accumet AB15, Fisher Scientific, Nepean, Ontario,
S/N 92311402).
Biological measures
For microbiological cultures, an elution was prepared by suspending approximately
1 g of bulk sample (fresh weight, actual mass recorded) (balance as above) in
100 mL of sterile 2% peptone solution (BioMedia Unlimited, Woodbridge, Ontario)
and agitated gently on orbital shaker for 30 min. An amendment to the original
sampling protocol filed prior to the field work was made largely because the
filed protocol was developed in the absence of field experience, such as the
amount of berm material that could reasonably be eluted in peptone broth. Without
this knowledge in advance of the actual sampling, the amount of material eluted
was determined empirically in the laboratory following sampling. Suspensions
were plated at rates of 1, 10, and 100 uL per Petri plate on each of 3 microbiological
culture media:
- Dextrose Peptone Yeast Extract agar with 60 ppm of the antibiotics chlortetracycline hydrochloride, streptomycin sulphate and penicillin-G [DPYA] for enumeration of microfungi;
- MacConkey agar [MAC] for enumeration of total coliforms and Escherichia coli; and,
- Hektoen agar [HEC] for enumeration of Salmonella spp. and E. coli.
All media were contained in 90 mm polystyrene Petri dishes and supplied by BioMedia Unlimited (Woodbridge, Ontario). Aliquots of suspension were dispensed on the agar surface in a central streak using sterile disposable pre-calibrated bacteriological loops (1 and 10 uL) or a micropipette (P200, Fisherbrand, Fisher Scientific, Nepean, Ontario) with sterile disposable tips (100 uL). The inoculum streak was spread over the entire surface of the agar by streaking perpendicular to the dispersed central streak of primary inoculum. Small volume plates (1 uL of suspension) were further eluted into 20 uL of sterile 2% peptone solution dispensed directly onto the agar surface to provide sufficient volume to disperse the inoculum. Inoculated plates were allowed to dry inverted for 2-3 hrs and sealed with Parafilm. Bacterial growth media were incubated at 37 °C for 24-48 hrs prior to analysis (Isotemp, Fisher Scientific, Nepean, Ontario, S/N 210N0087). Incubator temperature was monitored using a digital max/min thermometer (FisherBrand, Fisher Scientific, Nepean, Ontario, S/N 221125238). Fungal growth media were incubated at room temperature (~18-22 °C) for 21 d prior to analysis.
Fungal identification
Following incubation, plates with colony counts in the range of 10-100 colonies
per plate were selected for enumeration. Gram-mass content of viable microbes
was extrapolated from plate counts based on the amount of PFB material reflected
on the enumerated test plate. Where possible, fungi were identified to the species
level directly from colonies on the DPYA isolation medium using well-established
techniques of macroscopic and microscopic examination and comparison to standard
references (e.g. Arx, 1970; Barnett and Hunter, 1986; Barron, 1968; Carmichael
et al., 1980; Domsch et al. 1980; Ellis, 1971, 1976; Hanlin, 1990; Malloch,
1981). Direct colony examination was conducted using an Olympus SV-40 stereomicroscope
(Olympus Optical Co., Tokyo). Fungal cultures that required specialized identification
procedures were subcultured to additional growth media. Microscopic mounts were
prepared in either distilled water with Photoflo (Kodak), lactofuchsin (Carmichael,
1955) or undiluted lactic acid (85 % w/w, Fisher). Microscopic mounts were examined
in transmitted light and by Nomarski Differential Interference Constrast microscopy,
where required, using Olympus BX-40 and BX-50 microscopes (Olympus Optical Co.,
Tokyo).
Bacterial identification
Analysis of bacterial plates was carried out based on standard identification
methods (e.g. Hurst et al., 1997; Murray et al., 1999)
Statistical methods
Similarity of composition of microfungal communities at different levels sampled
within the OSGC berm was assessed using Spearman's coefficient (see Dillon et
al., 1996). Taxa observed in all samples are assigned a rank according to airborne
concentration from highest to lowest. For each taxon observed, the absolute
value of the difference in ranking between each pair of transects was summed
and divided by an expression of the total number of taxa observed. Spearman’s
coefficient (rS) is given by:
where,
rS = Spearman’s coefficient
di = difference between ranks at each depth for the same taxon
n = number of taxa observed
As well, sampling efficiency (I) was estimated by Good's Hypothesis (Good, 1953) using the modified formula of Moore and Holdman (1974), by:
where,
I = Index of sampling efficiency (%)
N1 = Number of taxa observed one time only
NT = Total number of observations
Methodological quality assurance
Temperature measurements for field investigation and incubator monitoring were
conducted using National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Traceable
Instrumentation compliant with ISO 17025 standards. Relevant calibration documents
are appended to this report (Appendix F).
Measurements of pH were conducted using a meter calibrated with Fisherbrand
buffers (Fisher Scientific, Nepean, Ontario) at pH 4.00 (Lot No. SC105504 exp
04/2004), 7.00 (Lot No. SC2056155 exp 02/2004) and 10.00 (Lot No. SC2120265
exp 11/2003) standardized against NIST traceable reference materials.
Microbiological growth media were quality checked by the manufacturer (BioMedia
Unlimited, Woodbridge, Ontario).
Microscope equipment is recalibrated against a standard stage micrometer annually
and prior to reinstatement into service.
Authorities for taxonomic concepts applied during the identification of microfungi
in this study are listed in Appendix B.
Results
Site observations
i. Oshawa Skeet & Gun Club
At the time of sampling, the berm was colonized by senescent annual vegetation,
the majority of which manifested late-season fungal colonization typical for
the region. Two species of macrofungi were also observed on the berm surface.
The cup fungus Peziza was observed fruiting densely on the sheer faces of clefts
that had arisen in the berm. This fungus bears its spores (ascospores) in gun-like
cells that line the interior of small cartilaginous cup-like structures (e.g.
2 - 5 cm diam). The spores are forcibly discharged into the air coincident with
mechanical disturbance of the inner surface of the cup (i.e. by wind action).
This fungus and others like it occur very commonly during the summer and late
fall in fertile soils and woodlands. As such, spores from these fungi are very
common in outdoor air during the growing season and may play only a minor role
in seasonal allergic syndromes and rhinitis.
As well, the bird's nest fungus Cyathus stercorius was observed fruiting luxuriantly over much of the surface of the berm. This fungus disperses its spores (basidiospores) in relatively large packets known as "peridioles" (e.g. 1-2 mm diam.) that are washed out from tiny cups by rain splash. Thus, it uses an aerial route of spore dispersal, in the broad sense. However, its peridioles are too large to contribute to bioaerosol. Many of the superficial fungal colonists of the vegetation on the berm are likely to contribute significantly to bioaerosols formation. However, the identification and characterization of those microbes was beyond the scope of the present study.
ii. East Elgin Sportsmen's Association
At the time of sampling, the surface of the range berms was largely devoid of
vegetation. Unlike the surface of the OSGC berm, there was no plant compost
on the surface of the EESA range berms. The investigation included a walk along
the full length of the berms, and a few samples of conspicuous fungal growth
were collected. As with the OSGC berm, the cup fungus Peziza was observed fruiting
densely in clefts along the berm. Also, there were a large number of myxomycetes
present on the upper surfaces of the berm. The fruiting bodies of Lycogala epidendron
were observed in a few locations, especially in clefts. A larger quantity (over
40 separate occurrences) of the phaneroplasmodia of an unidentified myxomycete(s)
was observed as well. These tended to be quite conspicuous, and may have represented
the over-wintering sclerotial state of myxomycetes that had been present in
the autumn season of 2002. A single observation of a 5 cm2 (approximate) patch
of mould growth on the south berm of the 350 m range was collected and identified
as Stachybotrys chartarum.
iii. Harmony Road Compost Site
The surface of compost heaps at the compost facility show a high degree of variability
in terms of vegetation type and age. Some heaps had conspicuous mould growth
on or just below the surface. A sample collected from the surface of a heap
composed largely of coniferous leaf litter and twigs had visible growth of mycelia
and conidiophores of Doratomyces microsporus and Chrysosporium cf. zonatum.
Visible mycelial growth was observed commonly on compost heaps within the surface
layers.
iv. Atlantic Packaging
The PFB piles were largely devoid of any conspicuous fungal growth. A single
observation of sterile mycelial growth was made on PFB along the wall between
the two access doors to the storage building. The area of the growth was approximately
25 cm2, and was unlikely a basidiomycete due to the absence of hyphal clamp
connections.
Analytical tests
Physical measures
The recorded values for temperature, pH and moisture content for the OSGC berm
are provided in Table 1. Temperatures in the berm ranged from 7.6 to 35.0 °C
(average 13.4 °C). The berm material was slightly alkaline overall, with
pH measurements ranging from 7.24 to 8.71, with an average value of 8.1. Moisture
content ranged from 26.0% to 56.2% with an average value of 38.3%. Figures 2
and 3 illustrate the distribution of temperature and pH over the outer structure
of the berm. The recorded temperatures and pH values tended to increase with
depth. Likewise, higher moisture contents were recorded below the surface of
the berm than were obtained at the berm surface. No clear patterns of variation
were noted according to level up the slope nor orientation relative to daily
exposure to direct sunlight. These data support a physical homogeneity of the
berm according to stratum, justifying the sampling scheme used in this study.
Moisture content for samples from the EESA, HRC and APPL are listed in Table 11 and Table 12. These samples were not evaluated for pH or temperature.
Biological measures
In total, 35 fungal taxa were observed in the samples taken from the OSGC berm.
These are listed in Table 1, with the raw data on the microflora presented fully
in Appendix A. Rank-order frequency and average abundance of taxa are presented
for the entire berm in Table 2, for the surface in Table 3, and for the 5 and
50 cm strata in Tables 4 and 5, respectively.
The taxonomic diversity of Sound-Sorb decreased with depth. The mycoflora found at different depths were not significantly different based on rank-ordered abundance of individual taxa; however combined taxonomic frequency (presence or absence of a taxon at a particular depth) showed similarity between surface sites and those at 50 cm. In this measure, however, both sites differed significantly from the mycoflora at 5 cm stratum (Table 6). Table 7 shows the characteristics of the fungi found on the berm surface.
The dominant fungi tended to be taxa that produce profuse amounts of dry spores. The characteristics of all fungi isolated are given in Appendix B. The opportunistic pathogen and common soil fungus Aspergillus fumigatus was found frequently at all depths. Overall, fungal abundance decreased with increasing pH (see Figure 4).
Sampling efficiencies for individual strata (i.e. the estimated proportion of total fungal biodiversity recovered by sampling) is shown in Table 8. Projected taxonomic coverage of the sampling was highest at surface of the berm (99.1%) and lower at depths of 5 and 50 cm (95.2 and 93.4%, respectively).
Figure 5 shows the total number of coliform bacteria and, specifically, E. coli recovered, with the raw data presented in Appendix E. A slight increase in the number of total coliforms was seen in samples taken towards the south end of the berm, as well as those taken at a greater depth. No Salmonellae were isolated.
In total, 6 fungal taxa were identified from three cultured surface samples of Sound-Sorb™ from the East Elgin Sportsman's Association. These are listed in Table 11. No fungi were identified from the single sample of PFB collected at the Atlantic Packaging plant (Table 11). 16 fungal taxa were identified from the six cultured surface samples of compost from the HRC. These are listed in Table 12.
Discussion
Mycoflora
Qualitatively, the fungal diversity of the OSGC berm can be categorized as thermophiles/
mesophiles (Aspergillus spp.), saprotrophs and fungal parasites (Doratomyces,
Graphium, Scopulariopsis, Trichoderma), and cellulose degraders (Trichoderma,
Stachybotrys). Species of these genera are frequent colonizers of soil and rich
organic substrates such as compost (see Domsch et al., 1980).
Given the high rates of sampling efficiency that were observed in this study (Table 8), it is highly unlikely that the present sampling failed to document microfungal taxa of ecological significance in the habitats examined. Comparison of the three sampling strata revealed that the surface mycoflora resembled the mycoflora at a depth of 50 cm qualitatively by rank-ordered frequency. The dominant shared taxa in decreasing order of frequency were Cladosporium, A. fumigatus, sterile mycelia, A. terreus, Mucor spp. and asexual members of the family Microascaceae (e.g. Doratomyces, Graphium, Scopulariopsis). A temperature gradient exists in the berm with increased temperatures at greater depth. There is no doubt that this material is, in literal terms, a self-heating mesophilic compost undergoing decomposition. Indeed one of the most dominant fungi observed, A. fumigatus, is a well documented colonist of self-heating composts (Millner et al., 1994).
Like compost, a number of the fungi observed in the berm material are mycoparasites, or fungal parasites of other fungi. Their presence in compost is generally viewed as a beneficial attribute in the use of this material as an agricultural topdressing by helping to reduce populations of plant pathogenic soil microbes through competition as well as direct parasitism (Cohen & Hadar, 2001). The floristic resemblance of the berm surface to the interior may simply be a result of topdressing the berm with mature green-waste compost which is likely to be rich in the same organisms in comparable proportion.
Quantitatively, the mycoflora recovered from the various strata of the berm are comparable in abundance and frequency to other substrata colonized by the same or similar microfungal species (see Tables 9-11). Indeed, the levels of fungal colony forming units observed in the surface layer of berm material shows gravimetric abundance at most within one order of magnitude of normal household dust in Southern Ontario (Table 9) (Scott, 2001).
The absence of fungal growth from the PFB sample (AP1) from APPL could be a false negative (Table 12). The DPYA medium selected for this sample was overgrown by bacteria, which may have inhibited fungal growth. Samples of fresh PFB may be better examined for fungal content by the use of a different culture medium and/or through the use of more antibiotics in the medium. The growth of sterile mycelia on an older PFB bulk sample indicates that fungi can grow on PFB prior to secondary processing to create Sound-Sorb™ . However, visible fungal growth was rare at the APPL facility.
The EESA may be the most compelling location in terms of an opportunity to evaluate fungal growth on Sound-Sorb™ in situ. There is in excess of 10 000 m2 of uncovered Sound-Sorb™ berm surface available for survey. From the three samples collected (Table 12) there was a low record of fungal growth as compared to the plant compost at the HRC (Table 13). The identification of Aspergillus fumigatus from one sample is interesting in that it supports the possibility that Sound-Sorb™ may be a significant contributor to air borne elements of this fungus regardless of the presence of a plant compost covering as at the OSGC berm. No species of Stachybotrys were reported from any of the three culture samples from EESA. However, the bulk sample collected from the 350 m berm indicates that Stachybotrys chartarum can grow on uncovered Sound-Sorb™ .
The Harmony Road Compost Site must be considered in any bioaerosol sampling design for the OSGC berm. Although only 6 samples were collected, the total colony-forming units (CFUs) for fungi in the compost samples that appeared to be mid-decay (subjective) were at least an order of magnitude in excess of the average values for surface samples from the OSGC berm (Table 13). Given the large areas of visible microbial fungal growth on or just below the surface of mid-decay plant compost heaps, this site may be a significantly larger producer of fungal bioaerosols in the local geographic region than the OSGC berm.
Bacterial flora
The bacterial flora in terms of total coliforms measured in the Sound-SorbTM
material is low, ranging on average between 100-101 CFU/mg and is unlikely to
contribute significantly to bioaerosol formation.
Potential for bioaerosol release
Species of Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Mucor and Penicillium have significant
potential to contribute to bioaerosols since these taxa are heavily sporulating
and produce their spores in dry, fragile chains that are easily disrupted by
wind or other mechanical action. Of the fungi observed, the most significant
from a health hazard standpoint is A. fumigatus. This fungus is well known as
an agent of opportunistic infection, particularly in the presence of immunologic
suppression or pre-existing disease. Infections due to A. fumigatus are typically
pulmonary but may become disseminated in susceptible hosts. It should be noted
that this fungus is not uncommon in the environment. It is a dominant airborne
fungus in arid climates (e.g. Abdel-Hafez et al., 1993). Nevertheless, health
risks related to exposure to this fungus depend on 1) host susceptibility and
2) magnitude of exposure. Being that A. fumigatus is predominantly a mesophilic
compost colonist, the potential for aerosol generation of this fungus is substantially
greater at the Harmony Road Compost Site 2 km to the north east of the OSGC
berm than at the berm itself. Indeed, the presence of A. fumigatus populations
on the berm surface may be, in part, a result of the use of mature green-waste
compost as a topdressing material. Despite the presence of these fungi in upper
layers of the berm material, the relatively low density of viable propagules
observed suggests that the berm is unlikely to be a major contributor to aerosol
release of these taxa. As such, the potential for bioaerosol release of these
taxa is considered to be low.
Bioaerosol sampling
Phase 2 of the study, if it is authorized, will look at actual release and dispersion of bioaerosols from the OSGC.
There are a number of sampling protocols typically used to evaluate bioaerosols (see Dillon et al., 1996). These are broken down into two groups: culture techniques and spore-trapping. In this situation, where the identity of a large number of species needs to be determined, spore-trapping will not be very useful. Many of the fungi observed here (e.g. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Graphium, Doratomyces, Scopulariopsis, Mucor, Trichoderma, Clonostachys, and Custingophora) have small spores lacking distinguishing characteristics which will not be identifiable through direct microscopic methods. A culture based approach is therefore recommended. The sampling protocol should be designed to both maximize recovery of the fungal taxa listed in Table 3, and consider thermophilic as well as mesophilic fungi.
A further contributor to potential bioaerosol release not considered in this survey is the herbaceous vegetation covering the berm. During and following senescence of these materials, stems and leaves become heavily colonized by fungi such as Cladosporium and Alternaria. It should be noted that this constitutes a significant surface area manifesting fungal growth since it is likely that the sum total of senescent plant surface area (i.e. the combined surface area of aerial plant parts such as leaves and stems) greatly exceeds the linear surface area of the berm. This contribution to bioaerosol of this enormous colonized "source", while expected, is likely to be non-trivial and should be considered in any effort to monitor bioaerosol propagation at this site.
Conclusions/ Recommendations
Mycobiota
The predominant fungi in the surface of the OSGC berm (occurring in 25% or more
of samples) were Aspergillus fumigatus, A. terreus, Cladosporium spp., Fusarium
cf. oxysporum, Mucor spp. and unclassified non-sporulating isolates (as sterile
mycelium). Viable sampling revealed average concentrations of each taxon in
the range of 101-102 CFU/mg.
Bioaerosol formation/ propagation
Based on this survey, the potential for bioaerosol release from the OSGC berm
is expected to be low in comparison to what might be expected at a fresh waste
composting site.
Bioaerosol sampling
Dry-spored fungi are most likely to contribute to bioaerosol release from the
berm surface. At minimum, a bioaerosol sampling strategy at this site should
permit the detection and quantitation of A. fumigatus, A. terreus, Cladosporium
and Mucor.
FIGURES and TABLES
Figure 1 Schematic of SoundSorb™ berm at OSGC indicating the locations of microbiological samples and physical measurements.
Figure 2 Temperature measurements of sample sites on the OSGC berm
Figure 3 pH measurements of sample sites on the OSGC berm
Figure 4 Relationship between pH and viable fungal content in OSGC Sound-Sorb™ (excluding data where fungal content fell below detection limit)
Figure 5 Distribution of total coliforms in sample sites on the OSGC berm
Table 1 Summary of biological and physical findings from OSGC Sound-SorbTM samples.
| Sample ID | A1-1 | A1-2 | A1-3 | A2-1 | A2-2 | A2-3 | A3-1 |
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 1.47 | 1.02 | 1.04 | 1.18 | 1.14 | 1.06 | 1.09 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 10.6 | 157.3 | 17.4 | 12.7 | 14.8 | 170.7 | 13.7 |
| Temperature (°C) | 11.5 | 11.5 | 17.1 | 11.0 | 12.5 | 17.0 | 11.5 |
| Moisture (%) | 36.0 | 37.7 | 44.9 | 33.5 | 40.6 | 44.7 | 39.3 |
| pH | 8.07 | 8.09 | 8.21 | 7.75 | 8.45 | 8.41 | 7.95 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | - | - | - | 217 | 30 | - | - |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | 242 | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | - | - | - | - | 74 | - | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | - | - | 17 | - | - | 171 | 69 |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - | - | 171 | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | - | 157 | - | - | 89 | - | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phoma herbarum | 42 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | 157 | - | 13 | - | - | 14 |
| sterile mycelium | - | 157 | - | 64 | - | - | 41 |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | 17 | - | - | - | - |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | - | - | 38 | - | - | - |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 64 | 472 | 35 | 574 | 192 | 341 | 137 |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | |||||||
| BACTERIA† | CFU/g (dry wt) | ||||||
| total coliforms | 1 | 1 | 1 | <1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| E. coli | <1 | <1 | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <1 | <1 |
| Salmonella spp. | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD |
| †LOD ≤ 1 CFU/g | |||||||
| Sample ID | A3-2 | A3-3 | A4-1 | A4-2 | A4-3 | A5-1 | A5-2 |
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 1.03 | 0.99 | 1.13 | 1.02 | 1.04 | 1.17 | 1.03 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 14.3 | 17.6 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 125.1 | 1.3 |
| Temperature (°C) | 12.0 | 17.5 | 10.5 | 12.0 | 35.0 | 9.6 | 10.8 |
| Moisture (%) | 38.3* | 42.8 | 35.2 | 38.4 | 42.4 | 31.7 | 26.0 |
| pH | 8.27 | 8.59 | 7.92 | 7.75 | 8.47 | 7.41 | 8.21 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | - | - | 12 | - | 2 | 375 | 4 |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | 250 | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - | - | 250 | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | - | - | 1 | 2 | - | 751 | 5 |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | 14 | - | 16 | - | - | 125 | - |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phoma herbarum | - | 18 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | 29 | - | 11 | - | - | - | 3 |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 86 | 18 | 44 | 3 | 7 | 1,752 | 14 |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | |||||||
| * overall average used as estimate | |||||||
| BACTERIA† | CFU/g (dry wt) | ||||||
| total coliforms | <1 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 17 | <1 | 53 |
| E. coli | <LOD | <1 | <LOD | <1 | <LOD | <1 | 7 |
| Salmonella spp. | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD |
| †LOD ≤ 1 CFU/g | |||||||
| Sample ID | A5-3 | B1-1 | B1-2 | B1-3 | B2-1 | B2-2 | B2-3 |
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 1.05 | 1.01 | 1.12 | 1.00 | 1.10 | 1.09 | 1.05 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 1.5 | 166.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 14.3 | 1.7 |
| Temperature (°C) | 16.9 | 7.6 | 9.6 | 21.5 | 9.1 | 9.9 | 13.9 |
| Moisture (%) | 37.8 | 40.5 | 38.3 | 43.1 | 33.5 | 35.7 | 42.8 |
| pH | 8.71 | 8.05 | 8.12 | 8.28 | 7.89 | 8.30 | 8.53 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 17 | - | 6 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | 35 | - | - | - | - | 14 | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | 2 | 333 | - | - | 26 | - | - |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | 166 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | 1 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | - | - | 4 | - | - | 29 | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | 499 | 1 | - | 16 | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phoma herbarum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | - | 333 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 54 | 1,331 | 22 | 11 | 45 | 43 | < LOD |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | |||||||
| BACTERIA† | CFU/g (dry wt) | ||||||
| total coliforms | 24 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| E. coli | 1 | <1 | <1 | 1 | <1 | <1 | 2 |
| Salmonella spp. | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD |
| †LOD ≤ 1 CFU/g | |||||||
| Sample ID | B3-1 | B3-2 | B3-3 | B4-1 | B4-2 | B4-3 | B5-1 |
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 1.10 | 1.10 | 1.01 | 1.00 | 1.06 | 1.00 | 1.04 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 14.5 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 149.3 | 14.7 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| Temperature (°C) | 9.7 | 12.6 | 21.9 | 10.5 | 16.0 | 31.6 | 8.9 |
| Moisture (%) | 37.5 | 36.9 | 56.2 | 33.0 | 35.9 | 51.0 | 37.1 |
| pH | 7.92 | 8.18 | 8.61 | 7.41 | 7.24 | 8.70 | 7.60 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | - | 48 | - | 597 | 383 | - | 3 |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | - | 72 | - | 299 | 44 | - | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | 46 |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | 44 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | - | - | - | 149 | - | - | 5 |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phoma herbarum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | - | - | - | - | 59 | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 44 | 120 | < LOD | 1,045 | 486 | < LOD | 53 |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | |||||||
| BACTERIA† | CFU/g (dry wt) | ||||||
| total coliforms | 1 | 12 | 45 | <1 | <1 | 2 | 5 |
| E. coli | <LOD | <LOD | 1 | <LOD | <1 | <LOD | 1 |
| Salmonella spp. | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD |
| †LOD ≤ 1 CFU/g | |||||||
| Sample ID | B5-2 | B5-3 | BF-1 | C1-1 | C1-2 | C1-3 | C2-1 |
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 1.10 | 1.02 | 1.00 | 1.10 | 1.01 | 1.18 | 1.00 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 1.4 | 17.0 | 16.2 | 156.0 | 17.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Temperature (°C) | 12.4 | 18.8 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 8.8 |
| Moisture (%) | 35.9 | 42.2 | 38.3* | 41.7 | 43.3 | 47.5 | 32.1 |
| pH | 8.12 | 8.62 | 8.10 | 8.13 | 8.04 | 8.43 | 7.85 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - | 17 | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | - | - | 16 | - | 52 | 3 | 58 |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | - | - | 312 | - | - | 3 |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - | 122 | - | 1 |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | 17 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | 9 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | 780 | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | |||||||
| Phoma herbarum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | 1 | - | - | - | 17 | 1 | - |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | 178 | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | - | - | 52 | 3 | - |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 10 | 102 | 194 | 1,092 | 262 | 9 | 74 |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | |||||||
| * overall average used as estimate | |||||||
| BACTERIA† | CFU/g (dry wt) | ||||||
| total coliforms | 21 | 51 | <1 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| E. coli | <LOD | 8 | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | 1 | <1 |
| Salmonella spp. | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD |
| †LOD ≤ 1 CFU/g | |||||||
| Sample ID | C2-2 | C2-3 | C3-1 | C3-2 | C3-3 | C4-1 | C4-2 |
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 0.14 | 1.00 | 1.07 | 1.01 | 1.00 | 1.02 | 1.01 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 10.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 139.6 | 1.6 |
| Temperature (°C) | 9.9 | 14.0 | 10.3 | 11.4 | 17.5 | 9.5 | 12.6 |
| Moisture (%) | 34.7 | 38.9 | 35.7 | 40.9 | 42.2 | 29.8 | 37.7 |
| pH | 8.62 | 8.71 | 7.91 | 8.21 | 8.43 | 7.71 | 7.93 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - |
| Clonostachys rosea | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | 11 | - | - | 5 | 5 | - | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | - | - | - | - | - | 419 | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phoma herbarum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 558 | 3 |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| TOTAL | 22 | < LOD | 19 | 9 | 14 | 977 | 10 |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | |||||||
| BACTERIA† | CFU/g (dry wt) | ||||||
| total coliforms | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 2 | <1 |
| E. coli | <LOD | <1 | <LOD | <LOD | <1 | <LOD | <LOD |
| Salmonella spp. | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD |
| †LOD ≤ 1 CFU/g | |||||||
| Sample ID | C4-3 | C5-1 | C5-2 | C5-3 |
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 1.12 | 1.03 | 1.04 | 1.01 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 1.5 | 1.2 | 135.0 | 1.5 |
| Temperature (°C) | 24.6 | 8.5 | 9.9 | 11.0 |
| Moisture (%) | 40.5 | 28.4 | 28.8 | 32.6 |
| pH | 8.38 | 7.86 | 8.01 | 8.25 |
| FUNGI | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | 2 | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - | Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | 3 | 23 | - | - |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | 1 | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | 1 | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | - | - | - | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | 3 | - | 270 | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | 5 | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | - | - | - | - |
| Phoma herbarum | - | - | - | - |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | - | 1 | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | - | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | - | 2 | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | 4 | 135 | 1 |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | - | - | - |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 8 | 38 | 405 | 1 |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | ||||
| BACTERIA† | CFU/g (dry wt) | |||
| total coliforms | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| E. coli | <LOD | <1 | <1 | <LOD |
| Salmonella spp. | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD | <LOD |
| †LOD ≤ 1 CFU/g | ||||
Table 2 Overall composition of OSGC Sound-SorbTM mycoflora
| TAXON | Frequency* at | Avg. conc. CFU/mg, dry wt |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| # sites | % sites | ||
| sterile mycelium† | 18/46 | 39 | 72 |
| Cladosporium NOS | 17/46 | 37 | 57 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 14/46 | 30 | 121 |
| Aspergillus terreus | 12/46 | 26 | 109 |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 12/46 | 26 | 40 |
| Mucor NOS | 8/46 | 17 | 118 |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 7/46 | 15 | 31 |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 5/46 | 11 | 106 |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 5/46 | 11 | 40 |
| Clonostachys rosea | 4/46 | 9 | 123 |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 4/46 | 9 | 4 |
| yeast NOS† | 4/46 | 9 | 11 |
| Alternaria alternata | 2/46 | 4 | 3 |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | 2/46 | 4 | 246 |
| Custingophora olivacea | 2/46 | 4 | 2 |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | 2/46 | 4 | 1 |
| Phoma herbarum | 2/46 | 4 | 30 |
| * presence/ absence;† multiple pooled taxa | |||
Table 3 Rank-order occurrence of fungal at OSGC berm surface
| TAXON | Frequency* at | Avg. conc. CFU/mg, dry wt |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| # sites | % sites | ||
| Cladosporium NOS | 16-Aug | 50 | 84 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 16-Jun | 38 | 94 |
| sterile mycelium† | 16-Jun | 38 | 81 |
| Aspergillus terreus | 16-Apr | 25 | 143 |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 16-Apr | 25 | 6 |
| Mucor NOS | 16-Apr | 25 | - |
| Clonostachys rosea | 16-Mar | 19 | 138 |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 16-Mar | 19 | 20 |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 16-Mar | 19 | 143 |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 16-Mar | 19 | 47 |
| yeast NOS† | 16-Mar | 19 | 20 |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | 16-Feb | 13 | 250 |
| * presence/ absence; | |||
| † multiple pooled taxa | |||
Table 4 Rank-order occurrence of fungal taxa at 5 cm depth
| TAXON | Frequency* at | Avg. conc. CFU/mg, dry wt |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| # sites | % sites | ||
| sterile mycelium† | 15-Sep | 56 | 17 |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 15-Jul | 44 | 60 |
| Aspergillus terreus | 15-Jun | 38 | 110 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 15-May | 31 | 177 |
| Cladosporium NOS | 15-Mar | 19 | 29 |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 15-Mar | 19 | - |
| Mucor NOS | 15-Feb | 13 | 50 |
| Penicillium sg Aspergilloides | 15-Feb | 13 | 9 |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 15-Feb | 13 | 1 |
| * presence/ absence; | |||
| † multiple pooled taxa | |||
Table 5 Rank-order occurrence of fungal taxa at 50 cm depth
| TAXON | Frequency* at | Avg. conc. CFU/mg, dry wt |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| # sites | % sites | ||
| Cladosporium NOS | 15-May | 31 | 26 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 15-Mar | 19 | 5 |
| sterile mycelium† | 15-Mar | 19 | 102 |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 15-Mar | 19 | 38 |
| Aspergillus terreus | 15-Feb | 13 | 4 |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 15-Feb | 13 | 3 |
| Mucor NOS | 15-Feb | 13 | 278 |
| * presence/ absence; | |||
| † multiple pooled taxa | |||
Table 6 Comparison of mycoflora by sample depth for OSGC berm
| Sites compared | Calculated rS (df = 33) | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Abundance† | |
| Surface vs. 5 cm | 0.491 * | 0.306 |
| Surface vs. 50 cm | 0.39 | 0.231 |
| 5 cm vs. 50 cm | 0.557 * | 0.405 |
| * Significance approximated at rS* = 0.467 with 30 degrees of freedom, ?=0.01 | ||
| † Calculated according to CFU/mg fresh wt | ||
Table 7 Characteristics of fungi on OSGC berm surface
| TAXON | Average abundance (CFU/mg) | Spores dry or wet | Fecundity* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 94 | ** | +++ |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | 250 | ** | +++ |
| Aspergillus niger group | 252 | ** | +++ |
| Aspergillus terreus | 143 | ** | +++ |
| Cladosporium NOS | 84 | ** | +++ |
| Clonostachys rosea | 138 | * | +++ |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 6 | * | ++ |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 20 | * | +++ |
| Mucor NOS | - | ** | +++ |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 143 | ** | +++ |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | ** | +++ |
| Phoma herbarum | 29 | * | +++ |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 47 | * | ++ |
| sterile mycelium | 81 | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | * | +++ |
| yeast NOS | 20 | * | +++ |
| ** Dry-spored; *Wet-spored; | |||
| * Relative spore yield: low (+); moderate (++); heavy (+++); non-sporulating (-) | |||
Table 8 Estimates of sampling efficiency*
| Depth | N1 | NT | % efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 cm | 3 | 318 | 99.1 |
| 5 cm | 10 | 208 | 95.2 |
| 50 cm | 5 | 76 | 93.4 |
| Combined | 11 | 602 | 98.2 |
| * calculated from raw data in Appendix A | |||
Table 9 Abundance of selected OSGC berm surface fungi vs. other habitats
| Taxon | Avg. abundance (CFU/mg dry wt) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound-SorbTM | Other* | |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 94 | <1b; 12(118)c |
| Aspergillus (Emericella) nidulans group | 250 | 3b; 5(47)c |
| Aspergillus niger group | 252 | 3b; 13(714)c |
| Aspergillus terreus | 143 | <1b; 1(2)c |
| Cladosporium NOS | 84 | <1b; 12(257)c |
| Clonostachys (Gliocladium) rosea | 138 | <1b; 6c |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 6 | 2(15)c |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 20 | 1a; <1b¶; 1c |
| Mucor NOS | - | 1a; <1b; 3(43)c |
| Penicillium subgen Aspergilloides | 143 | 331a†; 38b†; 4(241)c |
| Phoma herbarum | 29 | <1b£; 34(976)c |
| Stachybotrys chartarum (= S. atra) | 47 | <1b; 1(5)c |
| sterile mycelium | 81 | 1b; 19(235)c |
| Trichoderma spp. | 16 | 1b; 8(102)c |
| yeast NOS | 20 | 53(906)c |
| sources: aGochenaur (1978); bJoffe and Borut (1966); cScott (2001); | ||
| * maximum observed value indicated in parentheses; † as Penicillium spp.; ¶ as Microascus intermedius; £ as Phoma sp. |
||
Table 10 Frequency of selected OSGC berm surface fungi vs. other habitats
| Taxon | Avg. abundance (CFU/mg dry wt) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound-SorbTM | Other* | |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 38 | 17b; 7c |
| Aspergillus (Emericella) nidulans group | 13 | 100b; 3c |
| Aspergillus niger group | < 13 | 100b; 34c |
| Aspergillus terreus | 25 | 92b; 1c |
| Cladosporium NOS | 50 | 25b; 76c |
| Clonostachys (Gliocladium) rosea | 19 | 8b; <1c |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 25 | 92b; 20c |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 19 | 5a |
| Mucor NOS | 25 | 4a; 50b‡; 39c |
| Penicillium subgen Aspergilloides | 19 | 100a†; 100b†; 49c |
| Phoma herbarum | < 13 | 29c |
| Stachybotrys chartarum (= S. atra) | 19 | 25b; 4c |
| sterile mycelium | 38 | 100b; 89c |
| Trichoderma spp. | < 13 | 31c |
| yeast NOS | 19 | 78c |
| sources: aGochenaur (1978); bJoffe and Borut (1966); cScott (2001) | ||
| * maximum observed value indicated in parentheses; | ||
| † includes all Penicillium spp.; ‡ multiple species observed, frequency of most abundant taxon noted | ||
Table 11 Comparison of OSGC Sound-SorbTM data with Georgia soils (viz Miller et al., 1957)
| Taxon | Petri plates where taxon was observed (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound-SorbTM (present study) n = 46 samples |
Miller et al. (1957) n = 45 samples |
|
| Alternaria alternata | 4.3 | n/d |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | 2.2 | 10.0 - 27.5 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 30.4 | 1.4 - 45.4 |
| Aspergillus (Emericella) nidulans group | 4.3 | n/d |
| Aspergillus niger group | 2.2 | 2.1 - 9.0 |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | 2.2 | 1.1 - 1.4 |
| Aspergillus terreus | 26.1 | 0.6 - 14.6 |
| Aureobasidium (Pullularia) pullulans | 2.2 | 0.6 - 1.7 |
| Cladosporium NOS | 37 | 2.9 - 15.6 |
| Clonostachys (Gliocladium) rosea | 8.7 | 3.3 - 18.1 |
| Custingophora olivacea | 4.3 | n/d |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | 2.2 | n/d |
| Epicoccum nigrum | 2.2 | 0.3 - 4.3 |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 8.7 | 0.3 - 3.5 |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | 4.3 | n/d |
| Geomyces (Chrysosporium) pannorum | 2.2 | n/d |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | 2.2 | (0.3 as Geotrichum sp.) |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 26.1 | (up to 0.6 Trichurus sp.) |
| Mariannaea elegans | 2.2 | n/d |
| Mucor NOS | 17.4 | n/d |
| Myrothecium roridum | 2.2 | 0.7 - 5.6 |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | 2.2 | 3.3 - 7.1 |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | 2.2 | n/d |
| Penicillium spp. | 13 | (up to 31.9 Pen sp.) |
| Phoma herbarum | 4.3 | (up to 12.0 Phoma spp.) |
| Renispora flavissima | 2.2 | n/d |
| Stachybotrys chartarum (= S. atra) | 10.9 | 0.3 - 11.3 |
| sterile mycelium | 39.1 | n/d |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | 2.2 | n/d |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 15.2 | 9.9 - 24.2 |
| Verticillium psalliotae | 2.2 | n/d |
| yeast NOS | 8.7 | n/d |
| zygomycete NOS | 2.2 | n/d |
Table 12 Summary of biological findings from EESA and APPL Sound-SorbTM samples
| Sample ID | EEA | EEB | EEC | AP1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 0.76 | 0.85 | 0.71 | 1.05 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 13 | 1.2 | 14 | 9.5 |
| Moisture (%) | 34.7 | 38.9 | 35.7 | 40.9 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | |||
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | - | 6 | - | - |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | - | 8 | - | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | - | - | - | - |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | - | - | - | - |
| Graphium NOS | - | 33 | - | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | 1 | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | - | - | - | - |
| Phoma herbarum | - | - | - | - |
| Renispora flavissima | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | - | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | - | - |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | - | 4 | 268 | - |
| zygomycete NOS | 39 | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 39 | 52 | 268 | < LOD |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | ||||
| * overall average used as estimate | ||||
| BACTERIA† | >CFU/g (dry wt) | |||
| total coliforms | 8 | <1 | 15 | 29 |
| †LOD ? 1 CFU/g | ||||
Table 13 Summary of biological findings from HRC compost samples
| Sample ID | CF-A1 | CF-B1 | CF-C1 | CF-D1 | CF-E1 | CF-F1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elution conc. (g/100mL) | 1.55 | 0.58 | 1.12 | 1.78 | 0.96 | 2.65 |
| LOD (CFU/mg) | 65 | 17 | 89 | 1 | 10 | 4 |
| Moisture (%) | 37.7 | 45.5 | 33.5 | 2.5 | 47.3 | 31.8 |
| FUNGI | CFU/mg (dry wt) | |||||
| Alternaria alternata | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 387 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus niger group | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus terreus | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aspergillus versicolor group | - | - | 14,286 | - | - | - |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium NOS | - | - | 446 | - | - | - |
| Chrysosporium cf. zonatum | - | - | 8,036 | - | - | - |
| Cladosporium NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clonostachys rosea | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Custingophora olivacea | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doratomyces microsporus | - | - | 357 | - | - | - |
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | - | - | - | - | - | 38 |
| Emericella nidulans group | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Epicoccum nigrum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geomyces pannorum | - | - | - | - | - | 26 |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | 5,355 | 34 | 179 | - | - | 11 |
| Graphium NOS | - | - | - | - | 42 | - |
| Mariannaea elegans | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mucor NOS | 65 | 34 | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium roridum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paecilomyces variotii | 65 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Penicillium subgenus Penicillium | 323 | 34 | 804 | - | 10 | - |
| Phoma herbarum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Renispora flavissima | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scopulariopsis fusca | - | - | 3,571 | - | - | - |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| sterile mycelium | - | - | - | - | 21 | 15 |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trichoderma cf. pseudokongii | - | - | - | - | 10 | - |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Verticillium psalliotae | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| yeast NOS | 4,645 | 121 | - | - | 10 | 219 |
| zygomycete NOS | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 10,839 | 224 | 27,679 | < LOD | 94 | 309 |
| NOS = not otherwise specified | ||||||
| * overall average used as estimate | ||||||
| BACTERIA† | colspan="6">CFU/g (dry wt) | |||||
| total coliforms | 26 | 51 | 9 | < LOD | 7 | 5 |
| †LOD ? 1 CFU/g | ||||||
Table 14 Macroscopic description and/or location of samples from East Elgin Sportsman's Association, Atlantic Packaging, and Harmony Compost Site
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| EEA | Sound-Sorb™ surface sample collected midway along south wall of southern 75 m range |
| EEB | Sound-Sorb™ surface sample collected midway along shared wall of 75 m ranges |
| EEC | Sound-Sorb™ surface sample collected midway along south wall of 350 m range |
| AP1 | Sound-Sorb™ sample from new deposit from conveyor belt |
| CF-A1 | Harmony East - leaf litter and grass clippings de-bagged (mid-decay [subjective]) |
| CF-B1 | Harmony East - leaf litter and grass clippings de-bagged (near finish [subjective]) |
| CF-C1 | Harmony East - coniferous leaf litter and twigs with bags (mid-decay [subjective]) |
| CF-D1 | Harmony East - mixed vegetation with bags ([unprocessed?] aged but not decayed) [subjective]) |
| CF-E1 | Harmony West - fresh material still in bags (unprocessed) |
| CF-F1 | Harmony West - finished compost unscreened with bags still in material |
Appendices
Appendix A -- Sample Mycoflora, Raw Data
i. Sound-Sorb™, Oshawa Skeet & Gun Club
| Sample | 21-Feb | 22-Feb | 23-Feb | 22-Mar | 23-Mar | 24-Mar | 20-Apr | 21-Apr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume eluent enumerated (uL) | 10 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| Eluent concentration (g/100mL) | 1.47 | 1.02 | 1.04 | 1.18 | 1.14 | 1.06 | 1.09 | 1.03 |
| FUNGI | ||||||||
| Alternaria alternata | ||||||||
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 17 | 2 | ||||||
| Aspergillus nidulans group | 19 | |||||||
| Aspergillus niger group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus ochraceus | ||||||||
| Aspergillus terreus | 5 | |||||||
| Aureobasidium pullulans | 1 | |||||||
| Cladosporium NOS | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Clonostachys rosea | ||||||||
| Custingophora olivacea | ||||||||
| Cylindrocladium parvum | ||||||||
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | ||||||||
| Emericella nidulans group | ||||||||
| Epicoccum nigrum | 1 | |||||||
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 1 | |||||||
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | ||||||||
| Geomyces pannorum | ||||||||
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | ||||||||
| Graphium NOS | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Mariannaea elegans | 1 | |||||||
| Mucor NOS | ||||||||
| Myrothecium roridum | ||||||||
| Myrothecium verrucaria | ||||||||
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | ||||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 1 | |||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | ||||||||
| Phoma herbarum | 4 | |||||||
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | ||||||||
| Scopulariopsis fusca | 1 | |||||||
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| sterile mycelium | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | ||||
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | ||||||||
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 1 | |||||||
| Verticillium psalliotae | ||||||||
| yeast NOS | 3 | |||||||
| zygomycete NOS |
| Sample | 22-Apr | 20-May | 21-May | 22-May | 18-Jun | 19-Jun | 20-Jun | B1-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume eluent enumerated (uL) | 10 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 1 | 100 | 100 | 1 |
| Eluent concentration (g/100mL) | 0.99 | 1.13 | 1.02 | 1.04 | 1.17 | 1.03 | 1.05 | 1.01 |
| FUNGI | ||||||||
| Alternaria alternata | 1 | 3 | ||||||
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 9 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | |||
| Aspergillus nidulans group | 2 | |||||||
| Aspergillus niger group | 2 | |||||||
| Aspergillus ochraceus | ||||||||
| Aspergillus terreus | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 23 | |||
| Aureobasidium pullulans | ||||||||
| Cladosporium NOS | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Clonostachys rosea | 1 | |||||||
| Custingophora olivacea | ||||||||
| Cylindrocladium parvum | ||||||||
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | ||||||||
| Emericella nidulans group | ||||||||
| Epicoccum nigrum | ||||||||
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 1 | |||||||
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | ||||||||
| Geomyces pannorum | ||||||||
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | ||||||||
| Graphium NOS | ||||||||
| Mariannaea elegans | ||||||||
| Mucor NOS | ||||||||
| Myrothecium roridum | ||||||||
| Myrothecium verrucaria | ||||||||
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | ||||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | ||||||||
| Phoma herbarum | 1 | |||||||
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | ||||||||
| Scopulariopsis fusca | ||||||||
| Stachybotrys chartarum | ||||||||
| sterile mycelium | 8 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | ||||||||
| Trichoderma cf. viride | ||||||||
| Verticillium psalliotae | ||||||||
| yeast NOS | 1 | |||||||
| zygomycete NOS |
| Sample | B1-2 | B1-3 | B2-1 | B2-2 | B2-3 | B3-1 | B3-2 | B3-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume eluent enumerated (uL) | 100 | 100 | 101 | 10 | 100 | 10 | 100 | 100 |
| Eluent concentration (g/100mL) | 1.12 | 1 | 1.1 | 1.09 | 1.05 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.01 |
| FUNGI | ||||||||
| Alternaria alternata | ||||||||
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | 1 | |||||||
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 4 | 1 | 33 | |||||
| Aspergillus nidulans group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus niger group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus ochraceus | ||||||||
| Aspergillus terreus | 1 | 50 | ||||||
| Aureobasidium pullulans | ||||||||
| Cladosporium NOS | 19 | |||||||
| Clonostachys rosea | ||||||||
| Custingophora olivacea | 2 | |||||||
| Cylindrocladium parvum | ||||||||
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Emericella nidulans group | ||||||||
| Epicoccum nigrum | ||||||||
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | ||||||||
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | ||||||||
| Geomyces pannorum | 1 | |||||||
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | ||||||||
| Graphium NOS | 3 | 2 | 3 | |||||
| Mariannaea elegans | ||||||||
| Mucor NOS | 1 | |||||||
| Myrothecium roridum | ||||||||
| Myrothecium verrucaria | ||||||||
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | ||||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 1 | 12 | ||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | ||||||||
| Phoma herbarum | ||||||||
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | ||||||||
| Scopulariopsis fusca | ||||||||
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 1 | |||||||
| sterile mycelium | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | ||||||||
| Trichoderma cf. viride | ||||||||
| Verticillium psalliotae | ||||||||
| yeast NOS | 1 | |||||||
| zygomycete NOS |
| Sample | B4-1 | B4-2 | B4-3 | B5-1 | B5-2 | B5-3 | BF-1 | C1-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume eluent enumerated (uL) | 1 | 10 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 10 | 10 | 1 |
| Eluent concentration (g/100mL) | 1 | 1.06 | 1 | 1.04 | 1.1 | 1.02 | 1 | 1.1 |
| FUNGI | ||||||||
| Alternaria alternata | ||||||||
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 4 | 26 | 2 | |||||
| Aspergillus nidulans group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus niger group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus ochraceus | ||||||||
| Aspergillus terreus | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Aureobasidium pullulans | ||||||||
| Cladosporium NOS | 30 | 1 | ||||||
| Clonostachys rosea | 2 | |||||||
| Custingophora olivacea | ||||||||
| Cylindrocladium parvum | ||||||||
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | ||||||||
| Emericella nidulans group | ||||||||
| Epicoccum nigrum | ||||||||
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | ||||||||
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | ||||||||
| Geomyces pannorum | ||||||||
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | 1 | |||||||
| Graphium NOS | ||||||||
| Mariannaea elegans | ||||||||
| Mucor NOS | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | ||||
| Myrothecium roridum | ||||||||
| Myrothecium verrucaria | ||||||||
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | ||||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | ||||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | 5 | |||||||
| Phoma herbarum | ||||||||
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | ||||||||
| Scopulariopsis fusca | ||||||||
| Stachybotrys chartarum | ||||||||
| sterile mycelium | 4 | 1 | ||||||
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | 11 | |||||||
| Trichoderma cf. viride | ||||||||
| Verticillium psalliotae | ||||||||
| yeast NOS | ||||||||
| zygomycete NOS |
| Sample | C1-2 | C1-3 | C2-1 | C2-2 | C2-3 | C3-1 | C3-2 | C3-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume eluent enumerated (uL) | 10 | 110 | 110 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 110 | 100 |
| Eluent concentration (g/100mL) | 1.01 | 1.18 | 1 | 0.14 | 1 | 1.07 | 1.01 | 1 |
| FUNGI | ||||||||
| Alternaria alternata | ||||||||
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 3 | |||||||
| Aspergillus nidulans group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus niger group | ||||||||
| Aspergillus ochraceus | 1 | |||||||
| Aspergillus terreus | 4 | |||||||
| Aureobasidium pullulans | ||||||||
| Cladosporium NOS | 3 | 2 | 43 | 1 | ||||
| Clonostachys rosea | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| Custingophora olivacea | ||||||||
| Cylindrocladium parvum | ||||||||
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | 7 | 1 | ||||||
| Emericella nidulans group | 2 | |||||||
| Epicoccum nigrum | ||||||||
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Geomyces pannorum | ||||||||
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | ||||||||
| Graphium NOS | 1 | 3 | 3 | |||||
| Mariannaea elegans | ||||||||
| Mucor NOS | ||||||||
| Myrothecium roridum | 1 | |||||||
| Myrothecium verrucaria | ||||||||
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | 6 | |||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | ||||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | ||||||||
| Phoma herbarum | ||||||||
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | ||||||||
| Scopulariopsis fusca | ||||||||
| Stachybotrys chartarum | ||||||||
| sterile mycelium | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | ||||||||
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Verticillium psalliotae | 4 | |||||||
| yeast NOS | 1 | |||||||
| zygomycete NOS |
| Sample | C4-1 | C4-2 | C4-3 | C5-1 | C5-2 | C5-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume eluent enumerated (uL) | 1 | 100 | 100 | 110 | 1 | 100 |
| Eluent concentration (g/100mL) | 1.02 | 1.01 | 1.12 | 1.03 | 1.04 | 1.01 |
| FUNGI | ||||||
| Alternaria alternata | ||||||
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | ||||||
| Aspergillus fumigatus | ||||||
| Aspergillus nidulans group | ||||||
| Aspergillus niger group | ||||||
| Aspergillus ochraceus | ||||||
| Aspergillus terreus | 1 | |||||
| Aureobasidium pullulans | ||||||
| Cladosporium NOS | 2 | 19 | ||||
| Clonostachys rosea | ||||||
| Custingophora olivacea | 1 | |||||
| Cylindrocladium parvum | 1 | |||||
| Doratomycetes stemonitis | ||||||
| Emericella nidulans group | ||||||
| Epicoccum nigrum | ||||||
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | ||||||
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | ||||||
| Geomyces pannorum | ||||||
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | ||||||
| Graphium NOS | ||||||
| Mariannaea elegans | ||||||
| Mucor NOS | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Myrothecium roridum | ||||||
| Myrothecium verrucaria | 4 | |||||
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | ||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | ||||||
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | ||||||
| Phoma herbarum | ||||||
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | 1 | |||||
| Scopulariopsis fusca | ||||||
| Stachybotrys chartarum | ||||||
| sterile mycelium | 4 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | ||||||
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Verticillium psalliotae | ||||||
| yeast NOS | ||||||
| zygomycete NOS | 1 |
Appendix B -- Characteristics of fungi isolated
i. Sound-Sorb™, Oshawa Skeet & Gun Club
| Taxon | Dry/Wetspores | Fecundity | Authority for taxonomic concept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | ? | ++ | Pitt & Hocking (1999) |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | ? | +++ | Onions et al. (1982) |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | ? | +++ | Pitt & Klich (1988) |
| Aspergillus (Emericella) nidulans group | ? | +++ | Raper & Fennell (1965) |
| Aspergillus niger group | ? | +++ | Raper & Fennell (1965) |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | ? | +++ | Samson et al. (1988) |
| Aspergillus terreus | ? | +++ | de Hoog et al. (2000) |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | ? | ++ | Domsch et al. (1981) |
| Cladosporium NOS | ? | +++ | Barron (1968) |
| Clonostachys rosea | ? | +++ | Schroers (2001) |
| Custingophora olivacea | ? | ++ | Stolk & Hennebert (1968) |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | ? | ++ | Domsch et al. (1981) |
| Epicoccum nigrum | ? | + | Schol-Schwarz (1959) |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | ? | ++ | Onions et al. (1982) |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | ? | ++ | Domsch et al. (1981) |
| Geomyces pannorum | ? | ++ | van Oorschot (1980) |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | ? | ++ | de Hoog et al. (1986) |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | ? | +++ | Domsch et al. (1981) |
| Mariannaea elegans | ? | ++ | Samson (1974) |
| Mucor NOS | ? | +++ | Barron (1968) |
| Myrothecium roridum | ? | +++ | Domsch et al. (1981) |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | ? | ++ | Domsch et al. (1981) |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | ? | +++ | Samson (1974) |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | ? | +++ | Pitt (1979) |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | ? | +++ | Pitt (1979) |
| Phoma herbarum | ? | +++ | Sutton (1980) |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | ? | + | Sigler et al. (1979) |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | ? | ++ | Jong & Davis (1976) |
| sterile mycelium | - | - | N/A |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | ? | +++ | Rifai (1969) |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | ? | +++ | Rifai (1969) |
| Verticillium psalliotae | ? | ++ | Domsch et al. (1981) |
| yeast NOS | ? | +++ | N/A |
| zygomycete NOS | ? | ++ | N/A |
Appendix C -- Comparative statistical analysis of mycoflora -- taxonomic frequency ranking by depth
| # sites observed | Rank-order (corrected for ties) | Edi2 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth below surface (cm) | 0 | 5 | 50 | Combined | 0 | 5 | 50 | 0/5 | 0/50 | 5/50 |
| TAXON | ||||||||||
| Alternaria alternata | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 11.5 | 210.25 | 306.25 | 9 |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 210.25 | 12.25 | 121 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 6 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 2.5 | 4 | 3 | 2.25 | 0.25 | 1 |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 240.25 | 182.25 | 4 |
| Aspergillus niger group | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 210.25 | 12.25 | 121 |
| Aspergillus terreus | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 210.25 | 12.25 | 121 |
| Cladosporium NOS | 8 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 5.5 | 1 | 20.25 | 0 | 20.25 |
| Clonostachys rosea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 30.25 | 272.25 | 121 |
| Custingophora olivacea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 11.5 | 100 | 36 | 256 |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| Emericella nidulans group | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 27.5 | 11.5 | 2.25 | 306.25 | 256 |
| Epicoccum nigrum | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 27.5 | 11.5 | 2.25 | 306.25 | 256 |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 506.25 | 420.25 | 4 |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 11.5 | 210.25 | 306.25 | 9 |
| Geomyces pannorum | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 210.25 | 12.25 | 121 |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 27.5 | 11.5 | 2.25 | 306.25 | 256 |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 3 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 49 | 9 | 16 |
| Mariannaea elegans | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 210.25 | 12.25 | 121 |
| Mucor NOS | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| Myrothecium roridum | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 27.5 | 11.5 | 2.25 | 306.25 | 256 |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 25.5 | 1 | 272.25 | 306.25 |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| Phoma herbarum | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 11.5 | 100 | 36 | 256 |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 25.5 | 1 | 272.25 | 306.25 |
| sterile mycelium | 6 | 9 | 3 | 18 | 2.5 | 1 | 3 | 2.25 | 0.25 | 4 |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 2.25 | 12.25 | 4 |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 17.5 | 5.5 | 3 | 144 | 210.25 | 6.25 |
| Verticillium psalliotae | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| yeast NOS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 30.25 | 272.25 | 121 |
| zygomycete NOS | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 210.25 | 12.25 | 121 |
Appendix D -- Comparative statistical analysis of mycoflora -- taxonomic abundance ranking by depth
| Avg concentration (CFU/mg)* | Rank-order (corrected for ties) | Edi2 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth below surface (cm) | 0 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 5 | 50 | 0/5 | 0/50 | 5/50 |
| TAXON | |||||||||
| Alternaria alternata | 0 | 0.061 | 0.18 | 30 | 15 | 11 | 225 | 361 | 16 |
| Aspergillus flavus/ oryzae group | 0 | 0.056 | 0 | 30 | 18 | 26 | 144 | 16 | 64 |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 50.823 | 18.707 | 0.777 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| Aspergillus nidulans group | 20.747 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 26 | 441 | 361 | 4 |
| Aspergillus niger group | 10.684 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 26 | 324 | 256 | 4 |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | 0 | 0.619 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 26 | 441 | 16 | 289 |
| Aspergillus terreus | 44.84 | 8.228 | 1.425 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | 0 | 0.552 | 0 | 30 | 10.5 | 26 | 380.25 | 16 | 240.25 |
| Cladosporium NOS | 27.976 | 2.464 | 6.765 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 49 |
| Clonostachys rosea | 17.665 | 0.446 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 26 | 9 | 289 | 196 |
| Custingophora olivacea | 0.055 | 0 | 0.125 | 22 | 28 | 12.5 | 36 | 90.25 | 240.25 |
| Cylindrocladium parvum | 0.055 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 28 | 26 | 36 | 16 | 4 |
| Emericella nidulans group | 0 | 0 | 0.125 | 30 | 28 | 12.5 | 4 | 306.25 | 240.25 |
| Epicoccum nigrum | 0 | 0 | 5.896 | 30 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 784 | 676 |
| Fusarium cf. oxysporum | 0.709 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 28 | 26 | 144 | 100 | 4 |
| Gaeumannomyces NOS | 0 | 0.056 | 0.048 | 30 | 18 | 15 | 144 | 225 | 9 |
| Geomyces pannorum | 0 | 0.056 | 0 | 30 | 18 | 26 | 144 | 16 | 64 |
| Geotrichum cf. candidum | 0 | 0 | 0.613 | 30 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 484 | 400 |
| Graphium/ Doratomyces/ Scopulariopsis | 2.283 | 15.734 | 0.25 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 100 | 4 | 64 |
| Mariannaea elegans | 0 | 0.552 | 0 | 30 | 10.5 | 26 | 380.25 | 16 | 240.25 |
| Mucor NOS | 24.869 | 12.36 | 3.175 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Myrothecium roridum | 0 | 0 | 0.063 | 30 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 256 | 196 |
| Myrothecium verrucaria | 0.221 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 28 | 26 | 81 | 49 | 4 |
| Paecilomyces lilacinus | 0.341 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 28 | 26 | 121 | 81 | 4 |
| Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides | 19.665 | 0.177 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 26 | 25 | 324 | 169 |
| Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium | 28.409 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 26 | 576 | 484 | 4 |
| Phoma herbarum | 1.701 | 0 | 0.631 | 14 | 28 | 7 | 196 | 49 | 441 |
| Thielavia histoplasmoides | 0.055 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 28 | 26 | 36 | 16 | 4 |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | 1.107 | 6.679 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 26 | 64 | 121 | 361 |
| sterile mycelium | 41.651 | 10.734 | 0.298 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 36 | 25 |
| Trichoderma cf. piluliferum | 6.875 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 28 | 26 | 289 | 225 | 4 |
| Trichoderma cf. viride | 0.165 | 8.052 | 0.759 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 196 | 196 | 0 |
| Verticillium psalliotae | 0.234 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 28 | 26 | 100 | 64 | 4 |
| yeast NOS | 1.703 | 0.056 | 0 | 13 | 18 | 26 | 25 | 169 | 64 |
| zygomycete NOS | 0 | 0.062 | 0 | 30 | 14 | 26 | 256 | 16 | 144 |
| * Average CFU/mg fresh wt | |||||||||
Appendix E -- Bacterial Flora, Raw Data
| Trans | Site | Eluent conc. (g/100mL) |
Amt eluent plated (uL) |
Colony colour on Hektoen | MacConkey Total count |
Total Coliforms† (CFU/mg) |
E coli‡ (CFU/mg) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Yellow | Black* | |||||||
| A | 01-Jan | 1.47 | 10 | 92 | 1 | 100 | 7 | <1 | |
| A | 02-Jan | 1.02 | 10 | 71 | 3 | 75 | 7 | <1 | |
| A | 03-Jan | 1.04 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 6 | ||
| A | 01-Feb | 1.18 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 20 | 2 | ||
| A | 02-Feb | 1.14 | 10 | 25 | 0 | 40 | 4 | ||
| A | 03-Feb | 1.06 | 10 | 46 | 3 | 69 | 7 | <1 | |
| A | 01-Mar | 1.09 | 10 | 33 | 2 | 37 | 3 | <1 | |
| A | 02-Mar | 1.03 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| A | 03-Mar | 0.99 | 10 | 41 | 3 | 62 | 6 | <1 | |
| A | 01-Apr | 1.13 | 10 | 100 | 0 | 115 | 10 | ||
| A | 02-Apr | 1.02 | 1 | 50 | 2 | 200 | 196 | 2 | |
| A | 03-Apr | 1.04 | 1 | 110 | 0 | 100 | 96 | ||
| A | 01-May | 1.17 | 10 | 26 | 2 | 28 | 2 | <1 | |
| A | 02-May | 1.03 | 1 | 300 | 50 | 400 | 388 | 49 | |
| A | 03-May | 1.05 | 1 | 73 | 4 | 160 | 152 | 4 | |
| B | 01-Jan | 1.01 | 1 | 33 | 2 | 65 | 64 | 2 | |
| B | 02-Jan | 1.12 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 73 | 65 | <1 | |
| B | 03-Jan | 1 | 1 | 49 | 5 | 100 | 100 | 5 | |
| B | 01-Feb | 1.1 | 10 | 27 | 1 | 50 | 5 | <1 | |
| B | 02-Feb | 1.09 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 3 | <1 | |
| B | 03-Feb | 1.05 | 1 | 70 | 13 | 86 | 82 | 12 | |
| B | 01-Mar | 1.1 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 66 | 6 | ||
| B | 02-Mar | 1.1 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 82 | 75 | ||
| B | 03-Mar | 1.01 | 1 | 83 | 4 | 200 | 198 | 4 | |
| B | 01-Apr | 1 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| B | 02-Apr | 1.06 | 10 | 43 | 2 | 31 | 3 | <1 | |
| B | 03-Apr | 1 | 10 | 67 | 0 | 90 | 9 | ||
| B | 01-May | 1.04 | 1 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 31 | 4 |
| B | 02-May | 1.1 | 1 | 56 | 0 | 150 | 136 | ||
| B | 03-May | 1.02 | 1 | 150 | 50 | 3 | 300 | 294 | 49 |
| B | F-1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| C | 01-Jan | 1.1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 43 | 39 | ||
| C | 02-Jan | 1.01 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 53 | 52 | ||
| C | 03-Jan | 1.18 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 46 | 39 | 6 | |
| C | 01-Feb | 1 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 50 | 50 | 3 | |
| C | 02-Feb | 0.14 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 14 | ||
| C | 03-Feb | 1 | 1 | 46 | 2 | 52 | 52 | 2 | |
| C | 01-Mar | 1.07 | 10 | 175 | 0 | 200 | 19 | ||
| C | 02-Mar | 1.01 | 10 | 58 | 0 | 47 | 5 | ||
| C | 03-Mar | 1 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 64 | 64 | 1 | |
| C | 01-Apr | 1.02 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 112 | 11 | ||
| C | 02-Apr | 1.01 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | ||
| C | 03-Apr | 1.12 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 66 | 59 | ||
| C | 01-May | 1.03 | 10 | 170 | 15 | 150 | 15 | 1 | |
| C | 02-May | 1.04 | 10 | 32 | 3 | 80 | 8 | <1 | |
| C | 03-May | 1.01 | 10 | 30 | 0 | 70 | 7 | ||
* Salmonella spp. ruled-out based on reaction on triple iron sugar agar and
API testing;
† Estimated based on the total count observed on MacConkey agar (in CFU/mg fresh
wt)
‡ Estimated based on the number of yellow colonies observed on Hektoen agar
(in CFU/mg fresh wt)
Appendix F -- Instrument Calibration Certificates
Appendix G -- Comparison Data
Summary of studies used for comparative purposes:
Gochenaur (1978) studied the soil microfungi in an oak-birch forest on Long Island, New York. This work followed the seasonal fluctuations in soil mycoflora at ten sites over a period of 40 months. Results were expressed in CFU g-1 dry soil and frequency of occurrence of taxa as a function of the sites evaluated. A total of 10,684 fungal isolates were obtained comprising 89 taxa, 67 of which were identified to the species level. A Raunkiaer-type distribution of species was observed whereby 5 taxa appeared in more than 80% of the samples (Penicillium terlikowskii, Penicillium daleae, Oidiodendron chlamydosporium, Trichoderma pseudokoningii and an unidentified aleuriosporic Penicillium species). The remaining taxa were observed with increasing rarity. Mean fungal abundance ranged from an average of 385 - 1,600 CFU/mg (dry wt) seasonally with a peak in the spring.
Joffe and Borut (1966) examined the prevalence of microfungi in agricultural soils and kernels of groundnuts in Israel. In total, 12 sites were studied from which one surface sample and one sample at depth (40-50 cm) were collected on each of four occasions. Total viable fungal content of soils at the surface and at 40-50 cm was 6 - 191 and 2 - 255 CFU mg-1, respectively. Measurements of pH for the soils ranged from 6.2 - 8.9, with the majority of soils showing an alkaline tendency. Moisture content ranged from 1.3 - 52.8 %. A total of 95 species were observed. The predominant taxa observed in cultivated soils were species of Mucor, Rhizopus and Fusarium, with Aspergillus and Penicillium particularly abundant.
Miller et al. (1957) surveyed the fungi of forest and cultivated soils in Georgia, United States. Their study sites included a range of soil types and pHs sampled at depths up to 60 cm. Fungi were obtained by plating dilutions of 1:10,000 on a range of growth media (this plating concentration is comparable to the range used in the present study). In all, this study sampled 45 sites and isolated a total of 165 fungal taxa. For agricultural soils, they found that greater levels of culturable fungi were present at a depth of 5 cm as compared to surface samples. This study also found that species of Penicillium were the most common fungi isolated from forest soils whereas agricultural soils were dominated by species of Aspergillus and Fusarium. This study made no attempt to count the number of colonies of each species in each Petri plate (abundance). Also no attempt was made to obtain data on relative frequency of occurrence of any species is a soil sample. Rather, the data presented were summarized directly from raw data according to the number of Petri plates manifesting particular species. Data from the present Sound-SorbTM study was converted to this format for comparative purposes.
Scott (2001) evaluated fungi in house dust collected from 369 homes in Wallaceburg, Ontario. In each case house, a sample of broadloom dust was collected by vacuum device on a single occasion. Houses ranged from good to poor in terms of interior condition (e.g. presence of fungal growth/ colonization of surfaces). A small but significant proportion of houses manifested such problem conditions (e.g. ~10 - 15 %). A total of 256 fungal taxa were observed. The dominant fungal taxa in terms of both abundance and frequency were species of Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium. Species abundance in dust from a particular location was not predictive of housing condition.
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