Ultraviolet radiation as a controlling and mutating agent of environmental fungi

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVC) on the survivability and susceptibility of some fungal species isolated from the indoor air of agricultural, industry‐related workplaces.

Design/methodology/approach

Environmental fungi were collected from the air of cotton and soybean mills using liquid impinger sampler (AGI‐30). The UVC exposure experiment was performed on Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceous, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium rubrum using UV lamp (λ=254 nm; 0.1 mW/cm²). The susceptibility constant (Z) was used to determine the susceptibility of any given organism to UVC.

Findings

The conidia survival was inversely proportional to the time of UVC exposure and ∼77‐88.5% of conidia were killed within six hours of exposure. Mutant conidia showed a wide range of morphological alterations including damage of their cell walls and features. Mycotoxin production patterns of the mutants Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus changed on comparison with the parental control patterns.

Originality/value

The paper provides information on the effect of UVC radiation on environmental fungi. The results reported in this research discussed the disadvantages of using UVC as a decontaminant of fungi.

Citation

Abdel Hameed, A.A., Ayesh, A.M., Abdel Razik, M. and Abdel Mawla, H.F. (2013), "Ultraviolet radiation as a controlling and mutating agent of environmental fungi", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 53-63. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777831311291131