Studies on Airborne Fungal Flora

Part I. Study on Method for the Collection of Airborne Fungi

Abstract

Few reports were made with little information about the airborne fungal flora in Japan. From February 1962 through January 1963, Asada, a colleague in our department, made an investigation of the airborne fungal flora in Japan using an open plate method. Presently, a quantitative study was performed on the airborne fungi in Kobe-city by an aspiration method using cascade impactor.
Part I dealt with discussions on the methods with various instrument, i. e., a tape air sampler, high volume air sampler, impinger, and cascade impactor for collecting the airborne fungi. A comparison was also done between the open plate method and the aspiration method using a cascade impactor as to the number and kind of fungal colonies.
The results obtained were as follows:
1. Among the four instruments stu d ied, a cascade impactor seemed to be the best because it was easy to carry, easy to sterilize, and easy to manipulate asepticall y. It was also advantageous in catching particles in air in situ and in toto. (The number of colonies per cubic meter was highest and the min i m a l diameter of particles caught was smallest).
2. When compared with the open plate method, the aspiration method using cascade impactor proved to be very favorable in collecting airborne fungi more accu r a t ely and quantitatively.