Characterization and Human Health Risk Assessment of Fungal Species Isolated from Landfill Soil in Najaf Ashraf, Iraq

This study aimed to assess the potential human health hazards associated with fungal soil contamination, particularly in waste disposal and landfill areas. Soil, nail, hair, and skin samples were collected from thirteen sites in Najaf Ashraf, Iraq, between March and May 2023. Nine fungal species were identified: Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. glaucus, Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp., Syncephalastrum sp., and Cladosporium allicinum. Fungal counts in soil ranged from 40 to 5280 ± 3 CFU, with the highest count in site 2 and the lowest in site 12. In human samples, fungal counts varied: hair (0-1360 ± 2 CFU), nails (0-600 ± 1 CFU), and skin (40–680 ± 2 CFU). Aspergillus niger was the dominant species across all samples. Notably, the fungal species detected in human samples were consistent with those found in the soil, supporting the hypothesis of environmental transmission of these potentially hazardous biological contaminants.