**5. An experiment showing the effect of inhaling spores and conidia of the isolated fungi on public health of exposed individuals**

Biological effect of spores and conidia of *Aspergillus flavus*, *A. niger*, *Circinella umbellate*, *Gliocladium* sp., *Penicillium frequentans*, *P. islandicum,* and *Ulocladium atrum* on the decomposition of red blood cells in humans.

of human red blood cells. From our results, *Penicillium frequentans*, *Gliocladium* sp., and *Aspergillus niger* caused significant damage and decomposition of red blood cells at high rates compared to other fungi, while rest of tested fungi also caused damage, but less than the above which highlights the risk of exposure to conidia and spores of those fungi. Our findings here correlate with previous studies on how bad these fungi are, although no data are available on the effect of conidia and spores of some fungi on the decomposition of human red blood cells. All this confirms without any doubt the seriousness of the intense exposure to conidia and spores of fungi and that the huge quantities of wheat stored in silos is dangerous sources for dealers and exposers. We recommend using nasal and oral masks for people working in silos and exposed

**Figure 10.** Influence of conidial and fungal spores suspension of *Circinella umbellata* (sample No. 2), *Gliocladium* sp. (sample No. 3), *Penicillium frequentans* (sample No. 4), *Ulocladium atrum* (sample No. 5), *Penicillium islandicum* (sample No. 6), *Aspergillus flavus* (sample No. 7), and *Aspergillus niger* (sample No. 8) on hydrolysis of human red blood cells. Sample 1, is negative control sample [human blood + saline solution (0.9% NaCl)], and Sample 9, is the positive control

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to dust carrying fungal conidia and spores generated by the movement of wheat grains.

ing dangerous fungi that produce toxins.

sample [human blood + distilled water].

**6. Conclusion**

From another dimension, these conidia and spores of fungi are sources of severe contamination to wheat stored in silos. In the case of moisture, wheat becomes an ideal environment for growth, reproduction, and growth of fungi, which may grow inside the wheat mass, produc-

With the steady increase in human numbers and high living and nutrition requirements, it is imperative to increase the production of important cereal crops for large segments of the population. Wheat is a very important component of human needs throughout the world. Therefore, since ancient times people have been interested in working on storing this important and vital commodity to get it in time of need. Granaries and silos were established and they continued to develop until they reached the current structural and architectural design. Nowadays, nearly every country in the world has several silos spread throughout its land to cover the continuing needs of cereals. It should be noted that many countries in the world have a much higher request for wheat than their production. This leads to the import of this important commodity from places of production surplus from the need of producers. Since its harvest, wheat has been subjected to successive steps of transport and conservation, which makes it vulnerable to pollution and damage. As wheat crop is subjected to the sifting process, which removes grain from the harvest residues and soil granules, this factor will be ignored.

Results of the study showed the ability of each of the tested fungi to analyze the red blood cells in a human blood sample. There was a disparity in the effect of that on the severity of decomposition (hemolytic activity). *P. frequentans* performed highest response to disruption of the human red blood cells (63%), followed by *Gliocladium* sp. (51%), and *A. niger* (50%), respectively. Conidia and spore suspension of each of *Ulocladium atrum*, *Circinella umbellata*, *Aspergillus flavus,* and *Penicillium islandicum* donated sponses of 23, 22, 20, and 19%, respectively (**Figures 9** and **10**).

Despite all evidences from previous studies that confirm the seriousness of isolated fungi on the health of dealers and exposers, we have tested the ability of these fungi on hemolysis

**Figure 9.** Influence of conidia and spore suspension of *Aspergillus flavus*, *A. niger*, *Circinella umbellate*, *Gliocladium* sp., *Penicillium frequentans*, *P. islandicum,* and *Ulocladium atrum* on breakdown of the human red blood cells. Bars above columns symbolize standard error of average data from three replicates and reveal differences between averages of samples related to control. Significant values against control represent: \*\* = highly significant at p ˂ 0.01, \*\*\* = very significant at p ˂ 0.001.

**Figure 10.** Influence of conidial and fungal spores suspension of *Circinella umbellata* (sample No. 2), *Gliocladium* sp. (sample No. 3), *Penicillium frequentans* (sample No. 4), *Ulocladium atrum* (sample No. 5), *Penicillium islandicum* (sample No. 6), *Aspergillus flavus* (sample No. 7), and *Aspergillus niger* (sample No. 8) on hydrolysis of human red blood cells. Sample 1, is negative control sample [human blood + saline solution (0.9% NaCl)], and Sample 9, is the positive control sample [human blood + distilled water].

of human red blood cells. From our results, *Penicillium frequentans*, *Gliocladium* sp., and *Aspergillus niger* caused significant damage and decomposition of red blood cells at high rates compared to other fungi, while rest of tested fungi also caused damage, but less than the above which highlights the risk of exposure to conidia and spores of those fungi. Our findings here correlate with previous studies on how bad these fungi are, although no data are available on the effect of conidia and spores of some fungi on the decomposition of human red blood cells. All this confirms without any doubt the seriousness of the intense exposure to conidia and spores of fungi and that the huge quantities of wheat stored in silos is dangerous sources for dealers and exposers. We recommend using nasal and oral masks for people working in silos and exposed to dust carrying fungal conidia and spores generated by the movement of wheat grains.

From another dimension, these conidia and spores of fungi are sources of severe contamination to wheat stored in silos. In the case of moisture, wheat becomes an ideal environment for growth, reproduction, and growth of fungi, which may grow inside the wheat mass, producing dangerous fungi that produce toxins.
