Abstract
The higher airborne microbial concentration in indoor areas might be responsible for the adverse indoor air quality, which relates well with poor respiratory and general health effects in the form of Sick building syndromes. The current study aimed to isolate and characterize the seasonal (winter and spring) levels of culturable bio-aerosols from indoor air, implicating human health by using an epidemiological health survey. Microorganisms were identified by standard macro and microbiological methods, followed by biochemical testing and molecular techniques. Sampling results revealed the bacterial and fungal aerosol concentrations ranging between (300-3650 CFU/m3) and (300-4150 CFU/m3) respectively, in different microenvironments during the winter season (December-February). However, in spring (March-May), bacterial and fungal aerosol concentrations were monitored, ranging between (450-5150 CFU/m3) and (350-5070 CFU/m3) respectively. Interestingly, Aspergillus and Cladosporium were the majorly recorded fungi whereas, Staphylococcus, Streptobacillus, and Micrococcus found predominant bacterial genera among all the sites. Taken together, the elevated levels of bioaerosols are the foremost risk factor that can lead to various respiratory and general health issues in additional analysis, the questionnaire survey indicated the headache (28%) and allergy (20%) were significant indoor health concerns. This type of approach will serve as a foundation for assisting residents in taking preventative measures to avoid exposure to dangerous bioaerosols.
Highlights
Indoor air quality plays a vital role in the health and well-being of people as 80–90% of the total time is spent in the indoor environment [1,2]
Data indicates that headache was the most dominant (28%) health effect followed by allergies (20%). 13% of subjects reported frequent coughing and problem of the runny nose at the time of examination
This study suggested that high concentrations of the microbes were present in indoor areas as compared to outdoors
Summary
Indoor air quality plays a vital role in the health and well-being of people as 80–90% of the total time is spent in the indoor environment [1,2]. People inhale 10m3 air daily, which may be abundantly populated by various microorganisms in the form of colloidal suspension known as bio-aerosols [3]. Airborne microorganisms (AM) are cosmopolitan and even can be found in the highly controlled environment of operation theatres [4,5]. Fungi are the potential source of allergic and general health problems in different ways [6]. Sources of these microorganisms in indoor air may include people, organic dust, storage of various.
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