Emissions of fungal spores from biofilters of composting facilities.

The biofilters of two compost plants were examined regarding their influence on the fungal spore concentrations in the bioaerosol of the emitted air of the plants when passing the biofilters. In all cases of a series of measurements there was a reduction in the spore concentration of Aspergillus fumigatus, but the spores of other fungi inhabiting the biofilters, particularly Paecilomyces species and Aureobasidium pullulans, were released into the emitted air. Thus in some cases the total number of spores was higher in the treated than in the untreated air, but in other cases it was reduced.