| Abstract [eng] |
Indoor fungal community is an important determinant of indoor air quality. In a library environment, dust accumulation on densely occupied surfaces, paper-based materials, limited ventilation, and surface moisture may support fungal persistence and pose a health risk due to prolonged exposure. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the diversity of indoor fungi in Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy Information Centre and evaluate the antifungal efficacy of essential oils and plant extract obtained from Origanum vulgare (common oregano) and Artemisia annua. Species of Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Alternaria were found to be most abundant across gravitational sedimentation, swabbing of dust, and air samples, while no significant shift in distribution was found between spring and autumn seasons. The airborne mean fungal concentration was found to be low at 2 CFU/m³, depicting an acceptable air quality. Essential oils exhibited stronger antifungal activity compared to plant extracts. Among antifungal agents, oregano essential oil showed the strongest activity, with the highest inhibition zone of approximately 21 mm against Cladosporium sp., while Aspergillus sp. was the most resistant, showing only weak inhibition of approximately 7 mm at the highest tested concentration of 0.75 µL/mL. Surface treatment reduced fungal recovery, with the highest reduction observed for AEO (91.67%). However, under real surface conditions, the effects were not complete fungicidal. The study concludes that the essential oils, especially oregano essential oil, was a potent solution for reducing fungal concentration with more efficacy than alcohol based cleaning agent but their application should support, not replace, preventive management such as dust control, ventilation, humidity regulation, and regular surface monitoring. |
