Abstract
This study is to assess the microbiological quality and public health hazard associated with the air environment around waste dumpsites in Keffi, metropolis Nigeria was conducted. A total of 25 samples were collected from five different waste dumpsites around five different locations within the metropolis (Angwan Lambu, Keffi Main market, University Main campus and Nasarawa Road). Preliminary cultural, morphological, biochemical characteristics of the isolates revealed the following isolates, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus spp, Micrococcus spp., Aspergillus niger, Alternaria spp., Penicillum spp., Mucor spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizopus stolonifer and Candida spp. The total bacterial counts from the air environments of these waste dumpsites ranged between 2.2-7.4 x 101 cfu/m3, while the total fungal counts ranged between 1.4-4.4 x 101 cfu/m3. The susceptibility of the bacterial isolates against commonly used antibiotics tested showed varying degree of susceptibility and it is in the following decreasing order; Proteus vulgaris (93.3%) > Staphylococcus aureus (55.6%) > Micrococcus spp. (43.3%) > Pseudomonas aeruginosa (42.8%) > Bacillus spp. (41.2%) > Escherichia coli (30.8%). Health risk assessment indicates the presence of pathogenic bacteria and moulds with serious health risk to human within the environment due to the possibility of cross contamination of foods sold in the open. Consequently, there is the need to periodically monitor the number of microorganisms within the air of these environments using the established threshold stipulated for microbial concentrations in air.
Highlights
Waste generation by man started since the beginning of civilization as a consequence of human activities, involving the production of goods and services and the consumption of natural resources
The total bacterial count of the sampled air environments indicate that the highest bacterial count (7.4 × 101 cfu/m3) was around the waste dumpsite at Nasarawa Road, followed by (6.2 × 101 cfu/m3) recorded around Main Market waste dumpsite, while the total bacterial counts of 3.8 × 101 cfu/m3, 3.4 × 101 cfu/m3 and 2.2 × 101 cfu/m3 were recorded at the waste dumpsites at Angwan Lambu, Pyanku Campus and the University Main Campus respectively
This present study identifies the microbiological quality of the air environment around waste dumpsites and highlights risk it poses to public health
Summary
Waste generation by man started since the beginning of civilization as a consequence of human activities, involving the production of goods and services and the consumption of natural resources. Dumpsite is a piece of land where waste materials are disposed. Waste materials could be garbage, rubbish, yard waste, toxic waste and domestic refuse [1]. Human activities such as sewage treatment, plants and animal rendering, fermentation processes and agricultural activities do emit microorganisms into the air [3,4,5,6]. Air serves as a mode of transport for the dispersal of bioaerosols (particles of biological origin e.g. bacteria, fungi, pollen, viruses that are important constituents of the atmosphere and could possess the potential to cause a variety of diseases in humans and animals). The composition and Obiekezie Smart Obumneme et al.: Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Air Environment Around Waste Dumpsites
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