Authors : Umesh B. Kakde
Page Nos : 393-398
Description :
Abstract:
Biodeterioration of archive and library materials is commonly caused by fungi. Fungi are specialized micro-organisms which differ from the plant kingdom by the lack of chlorophyll and consequently cannot utilize energy directly from sunlight. The biodeterirative role of fungi is due to their hydrolytic enzyme activity. The cellulytic activities cause maximum damage to papers as well as binding materials of the books like leather and glue. Fungal spores in the library not only deteriorate and degrade the quality of papers but also cause the health effects like allergy and allied respiratory symptoms to the readers, students and the staff members.A study of airborne fungi was carried out in the 80 years old college library in Mumbai by using viable volumetric sampling methods. This resulted in a total of 31 identified species, of which the most abundant were: Aspergillus spp. (38.3%), Penicillium spp. (13.8%), Alternaria spp. (6.1%), Cladosporium sp. (3.8%), Curvularia sp. (4.1%), Trichoderma spp (3.9%), Chaetomium (2.7%), Unidentified fungi (9.1%) etc. Filamentous fungi of 12 genera, represented by 30 species, were isolated from library materials as books, paper, parchment, textiles, glues, inks and wood.
Key Words: Deterioration, Degradation, Library materials, Health effects, Fungi, Bio-aerosols,
