Assessment of Bioaerosol Concentrations in Different Indoor Environments

Abstract

The aim of this study was the assessment of bioaerosols in different indoor environments. The study was performed using volumetric culture plate air sampling to determine the concentration of viable bioaerosols. The results revealed that 60.9% of air samples from public places and all air samples collected in food processing plants had unacceptable levels of micro-organisms. This was based on a suggested standard which proposes that concentrations of viable micro-organisms should be no higher than 300 CFU · m-3. More detailed study of the bioaerosols collected showed that the main parameters of interest for indoor air quality were fungi and further characterization allowed identification of the genera present in a particular place. Acceptable indoor air quality, by the above standard, was found at a university faculty, in a fast food restaurant, a cultural centre, a health centre and a hospital, while it was not acceptable in meat-, mustard-, olive- and infant food-processing plants because the concentrations of moulds were higher than 150 CFU· m -3 and the predominant genus identified was Penicillium.