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Indoor and Outdoor Airborne Bacterial and Fungal Air Quality in Kindergartens: Seasonal Distribution, Genera, Levels, and Factors Influencing Their Concentration Publisher



Chegini FM1 ; Baghani AN1 ; Hassanvand MS1, 10 ; Sorooshian A2, 3 ; Golbaz S1 ; Bakhtiari R4 ; Ashouri A5, 6 ; Joubani MN7 ; Alimohammadi M1, 8, 9
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
  3. 3. Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
  4. 4. Department of Microbiology, School of Public Health and Institute Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Department of Cardiology, Heshmat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  6. 6. Research Center of Health and Environment, Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  7. 7. Research Center of Health and Environment, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  8. 8. Center for Water Quality Research (CWQI), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  9. 9. Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  10. 10. Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Building and Environment Published:2020


Abstract

Kindergartens in developing countries are sensitive places for children owing to exposure to bioaerosols that promote a range of infections. This work aimed to determine the concentration of culturable bacteria and fungi aerosols in indoor and outdoor air of twelve kindergartens in Rasht, Iran. The mean concentrations of fungi versus bacteria in indoor air of kindergartens were 7 ± 6 CFU/plate/hr versus 42 ± 29 CFU/plate/hr, respectively, while the mean concentrations of fungi versus bacteria in outdoor air of the same kindergartens were 12 ± 8 CFU/plate/hr versus 24 ± 18 CFU/plate/hr, respectively. The findings revealed that 33% of the concentration of indoor bioaerosols (bacteria and fungi) and 8% of the concentration of outdoor bioaerosols in kindergartens were higher than the recommended value (40–84 CFU/plate/hr), indicating medium risk. The main bacteria species detected in indoor and outdoor air in kindergartens were Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. The predominant genera of the airborne fungi isolated from indoor and outdoor air in kindergartens were Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Rhodotorula spp., Ulocladium spp., and Alternaria spp. Indoor air quality of kindergartens qualified as posing a medium risk level, and strategies should be considered to remove bioaerosol emissions in these susceptible places. Hence, to reduce negative health effects of bioaerosols on children, it is important to have proper ventilation, air conditioning systems, minimal furniture and textile materials, and application of disinfectants. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
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