Air microbial quality in certain public buildings, Egypt: A comparative study

Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to determine microbiological air quality in public buildings: libraries, faculties, schools, childdaycare centers and hospitals and its association with microclimatic conditions, particulate matter (PM) andventilation type.

📊

Key Findings & Data:Airborne bacteria and fungi were collected using Andersen two-stage sampler, it divides particlesinto coarse (≥7 μm) and fine (< 2.5 μm) size ranges.

💡

Conclusion & Impact:However¸ PM positively affected bacterial culturability and temperaturenegatively affected bacterial and fungal curturability in outdoor environment.

🔬Design:Research Article

📍Scope:2000 Verileri

⚙️Variables:Domain Parameters

Özet

This study aims to determine microbiological air quality in public buildings: libraries, faculties, schools, childdaycare centers and hospitals and its association with microclimatic conditions, particulate matter (PM) andventilation type. Airborne bacteria and fungi were collected using Andersen two-stage sampler, it divides particlesinto coarse (≥7 μm) and fine (< 2.5 μm) size ranges. Bacterial and fungal concentrations ranged between0 ‒ 105 CFU/m3 and 0–103 CFU/m3, respectively. The 95th percentile values were 3399 CFU/m3 for environmentalbacteria; 2299 CFU/m3 for mesophilic bacteria and 513 CFU/m3 for fungi. The Global Index of MicrobialContamination (GIMC/m3) exceeded 2000 CFU/m3 in hospitals' admission rooms and educational buildings.Index of Mesophilic Bacterial Contamination (IMC) achieved the greatest value in the faculty of specific education(F.SE), indicating overcrowding and hypoventilation. Fine particle fraction ranged within 2–41% forbacteria and 47–94% for fungi. Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus atrophaeus were the common bacterial species.Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium and Cladosporium were the common fungal types. The secondary and tertiaryfungal colonizers were detected in low counts. Agreement ratios showed that, outdoor air was the main contributorof indoor fungal flora, and accumulated dust was important contributor of fungal and bacterial flora inschools and faculties. Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of PM concentrations exceeded 1 in ∼37% of the publicbuildings. Temperature negatively affected bacterial culturability while, relative humidity and PM supportedfungal culturability in indoor environment. However¸ PM positively affected bacterial culturability and temperaturenegatively affected bacterial and fungal curturability in outdoor environment.

🔖

Cite This Article

AWAD, A. H., SAEED, Y., HASSAN, Y., FAWZY, Y., OSMAN, M. (2018). Air microbial quality in certain public buildings, Egypt: A comparative study. Atmospheric Pollution Research, Cilt: 9 - Sayı: 4, 617–626. https://ajindex.com/articles/351357

References (11)

Abdel Hameed, A.A., Habeebuallah, T., Mashat, B., Elgendy, S., Elmorsy, T.H., Elserougy, S., 2015. Airborne fungal pollution at waste application facilities. Aerobiologia 31, 283–293.
Adams, R.I., Miletto, M., Lindow, S.E., Taylor, J.W., Bruns, T.D., 2014. Airborne bacterial communities in residences: similarities and differences with fungi. PLos One 9 (3), E91283. Adhikari, A., Reponen, T., Grinshpun, S.A., Martuzevicius, D., Le Masters, G., 2006. Correlation of ambient inhalable bioaerosols with particulate matter and ozone: a two-year study. Environ. Pollut. 140, 16–28.
Alghamdi, M.A., Shamy, M., Redal, M.A., Khoder, M., Abdel Hameed, A., Elserougy, S., 2014. Microorganisms associated particulate matter: a preliminary study. Sci. Total Environ. 479–480, 109–116.
Anaya, M., Borrego, S.F., Gamez, E., Castro, M., Molina, A., Valdes, O., 2016. Viable fungi in the air of indoor environments of the national archive of the republic of Cuba. Aerobiologia 32, 513–527.
Andersen, A.A., 1958. New sampler for the collection, sizing, and enumeration of viable airborne particles. J. Bacteriol. 6, 471–484.
Asan, A., Iihan, S., Sen, B., Erkara, I.P., Filik, C., Cabuk, A., Demirel, R., Ture, M., Okten, S.S., Tokur, S., 2004. Airborne fungi and actinomycetes concentrations in the air of Eskisehir city (Turkey). Indoor Built Environ. 13, 63–74.
Barnett, H.L., Hunter, B.B., 1999. Illustrated Genera of Imperfect Fungi, fourth ed.s. The American Phytopathological Society, APS, St. Paul, MN P. 218. Borrego, S., Guiamet, P., Gomez, S., Batistini, P., Garcia, M., Lavin, P., Perdomo, I., 2010. The quality of air at archives and the biodeterioration of photographs. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegradation 64, 139–145.
Bowers, R.M., Mccubbin, I.B., Hallar, A.G., Fierer, N., 2012. Seasonal variability in airborne bacterial communities at a high-elevation site. Atmos. Environ. 50, 41–49.
Cann, P.L., Bonvallot, N., Glorennec, P., Deguen, S., Goeury, C., Bot, B.L., 2011. Indoor environment and children's health: recent developments in chemical, biological, physical and social aspects. Int. J. Hyg Environ. Health 215, 1–18.
Carmichael, J.W., Kendrick, B.W., Conners, L.L., Sigler, L., 1980. Genera of Hyphomycetes. University of Alberta Press,
Edmonton, Canada. CEC, Commission of the European communities, 1993. European Collaborative Action Indoor Air Quality and its Impact on Man, Environment and Quality of Life, Report No. 12. Biological Particles in Indoor Environments. Commission of the Europ