Research Topic: environmental contamination

Black mold in the bag room: First case of Arthrocladium tropicale peritonitis in a peritoneal dialysis patient

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A peritoneal dialysis patient contracted a rare fungal infection caused by Arthrocladium tropicale, a mold found in damp environments and associated with ant nests. The infection was diagnosed through microscopy and genetic testing, revealing resistance to one antifungal drug but susceptibility to amphotericin B. Treatment with this antibiotic and removal of the dialysis catheter led to full recovery, highlighting the importance of keeping medical equipment storage areas dry and pest-free.

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A Review of the Occurrence of Alpha-Emitting Radionuclides in Wild Mushrooms

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Wild mushrooms can absorb radioactive elements from soil, particularly polonium and radium which accumulate to high levels. The amount of radioactivity varies greatly depending on where mushrooms are grown and what species they are. In most areas, naturally occurring radioactive elements are the main concern, but mushrooms from regions affected by nuclear accidents like Chernobyl may contain dangerous artificial radioactive isotopes. People who frequently consume wild mushrooms from certain regions could potentially exceed safe annual radiation exposure limits.

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Black mold in the bag room: First case of Arthrocladium tropicale peritonitis in a peritoneal dialysis patient

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An 82-year-old dialysis patient developed an unusual infection caused by a black mold called Arthrocladium tropicale, which had never been documented in humans before. The infection was traced to poor storage conditions and ant infestations near the patient’s dialysis supplies in Thailand during rainy season. Doctors identified the rare fungus using molecular genetic testing and treated it successfully with antifungal medication combined with removal of the dialysis catheter. This case highlights the importance of keeping dialysis equipment in clean, dry environments and preventing pest access to prevent serious infections.

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Azole fungicides and Aspergillus resistance, five EU agency report highlights the problem for the first time using a One Health approach

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A major European health agency report warns that widely-used fungicides sprayed on crops to prevent plant diseases may be creating resistant fungi that can infect humans and make medical treatments ineffective. The study found that about 10,000 tonnes of these azole fungicides are used in Europe annually, and their residues accumulate in the environment where they can cause harmful fungi to become resistant to the same medicines doctors use to treat patients. The report calls for urgent action to better monitor this problem and prevent resistance through smarter use and regulation of agricultural fungicides.

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Bibliometric analysis of European publications between 2001 and 2016 on concentrations of selected elements in mushrooms

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Researchers reviewed 200 European studies from 2001-2016 examining how mushrooms absorb heavy metals from soil. They found that mushrooms, especially edible species, can accumulate dangerous metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury, with the highest contamination in mushrooms from polluted industrial areas. Turkey, Poland, Spain, and Czech Republic led research efforts on this topic. Scientists increasingly used health risk assessment methods to determine safe consumption levels of mushrooms from different habitats.

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Mycoremediation of azole antifungal agents using in vitro cultures of Lentinula edodes

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This research shows that shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) can help clean up antifungal medications that contaminate water and soil. When the mushroom mycelium was exposed to two common antifungal drugs used in creams and treatments, it absorbed and broke down these compounds. The mushrooms degraded about one-third of the drugs by targeting their chemical structure, particularly the imidazole ring. This suggests mushrooms could be used as a natural, cost-effective solution for removing pharmaceutical pollution from the environment.

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Assessment of the Impact of Metals in Wild Edible Mushrooms from Dambovita County, Romania, on Human Health

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This study examined 18 types of wild mushrooms commonly eaten in Romania to measure their metal content. Researchers found that while mushrooms provide important minerals like iron and zinc, some species accumulate harmful metals like cadmium and chromium. Children are at greater risk from eating these mushrooms than adults because their smaller bodies absorb proportionally more of the contaminants. Some mushroom species pose significant cancer risks from metal exposure.

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