The Effect of Aerosols on the Air Microflora of the Indoor Air

Abstract

This research work assessed the microflora of rooms sprayed with different insecticides and air freshners with the aim of investigating the effect of the aerosols on the types of microflora in the room environment. Eight (8) different samples of chemical aerosols were used they are: Mobile insecticide(Imidacloprid), Raid multipurpose insect killer(1R-trans Phenothrin), Morten Insecticide(pyrethroids), Rambo Insecticide(pyrethroid compound). as categorized as Insecticides, while Febreze(hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin), Air wick(Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (aka dipropylene glycol methyl ether), Glade(allyl 3-cyclohexylpropionate, allyl caproate, benzyl alcohol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Top breeze(Cyclodextrin) were purchased as air fresheners/fragrance and eight (8) different rooms were used. Microorganisms isolated from the rooms before and after spraying with aerosols were: Staphylococus aureus, Lactobacillus jensenii, Bacillus coagulans, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Micrococcus spp., Aerococcus viridans, Pediococcus cerevisiae, Streptococcus spp., Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. The result of eight different rooms sprayed with different aerosol as Insecticide and air fresheners showed that, some aerosols were able to inhibit some organisms that were initially present in some rooms while there were introduction of another organisms from some aerosols into some rooms. The occurrence of Staphylococus aureus (100%) was the highest in all the rooms followed by Aspergillus niger (87.5) and A. flavus (75%). Lactobacillus jensenii, Bacillus coagulans and Micrococcus spp. had the lowest frequency of occurrence (12.5%).