The air spora of a Portuguese Cork Factory

—Cork particles and fungus spores were commonly airborne in a cork factory in
Portugal where some workers suffered from suberosis. Where cork was being handled and
shaped, fungus spores were usually more common than cork particles. In a warehouse
(Junddo) where cork had moulded, up to 54 x 106
spores/m3
were general in the air, but workers
handling the mouldy cork were exposed to as many as 128 x 10* spores/m*. Cork particles were
most common close to cutting and sanding machines, but seldom exceeded 2x10* particles/m3
air. The most abundant species were Penicillium frequentans Westling, P. granulatum Bain.,
Aphanocladium album (Preuss) W. Gams, Monilia sitophila (Mont.) Sacc. and Mucor plumbeus
Bon. P. frequentans was common everywhere in the factory and mostly in units small enough
to penetrate into alveoli
RESP-6856