Omid Alizad Farzin - Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Hatam Godini - Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Mohammad Noorisepehr - Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Elaheh Mahmoudi - Department of Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.

Introduction: Fungal aerosols from landfill sites can play a fundamental role in environmental pollution and health. The present study aimed to assess the dispersion of fungal aerosols from municipal solid waste disposal site. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the concentration of fungal aerosols was determined in four geographical directions at distances of ۲۵۰, ۵۰۰, ۷۵۰, and ۱۰۰۰ m around landfill site. Relative humidity and temperature were also measured. Moreover the concentration and type of the fungal taxa isolated from landfill site under different environmental and metrological conditions were evaluated. Results: The results showed that the maximum and minimum concentrations of fungal aerosol in the landfill site were ۲۵۶.۱۸ ± ۵۹.۷ CFU/m۳ and ۷۶.۵۶ ± ۲۳.۲ CFU/m۳, respectively. The most frequent fungi detected from municipal landfill site included Penicillium (۴۳.۶۷%), Cladosporium (۳۳.۵۴%), Yeast (۷.۶۰%), Aspergillus (۵.۹۱%), Curvularia (۳.۶۲%), Chrysosporium (۱.۵۷%), Alternaria (۱.۵۴%), Scopulariopsis (۰.۸۴%), and Ulocladium (۰.۶۰%) taxa. The maximum identified fungal aerosol concentration in the area around the solid waste landfill was ۳۵۰ CFU/m۳. Furthermore, the concentration of fungal aerosols in the environment was significantly related to relative humidity, wind direction, and temperature in spring and winter (P < ۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Municipal solid waste disposal site can be a potential source for fungal aerosol dispersion. Moreover, fungal aerosols concentration is correlated with wind direction and speed, relative humidity, and temperature.

Fungi, Aerosols, Solid Waste, Wind, Humidity, Karaj City.