Occupational exposure to fungi in gymnasiums with swimming pools

Abstract

Fungal contamination of the floor in 10 gyms with swimming pools was monitored. One hundred and twenty swab samples were collected: 60 before and 60 after cleaning operations. The samples were taken near the pool and jacuzzi, in surrounding the pool access stairs, in training studios and in male and female showers and changing rooms. Simultaneously, environmental parameters - temperature and relative humidity - were also monitored. Thirty-seven different species of fungi were identified. Among those species, Fusarium sp. was the operations. Twelve different species of yeasts were identified. The most identified genera before cleaning was Cryptococcus (40,6%), and after cleaning was Candida (49,3%). The difference between before and after cleaning operations was statistically significant (p<0,05) for fungi in pool access stairs and jacuzzi, and for yeasts in male showers and changing rooms. Taking into account the average values of fungal contamination the decreased due to cleaning procedures only occurred in male shower and changing rooms and only in yeasts count. The fungal contamination showed no significant relationship (p>0,05) with temperature and relative humidity. © 2009 WIT Press.