The physical environments and microbiological contamination in three different fitness centres and the participants’ expectations: Measurement and analysis

Abstract

In this study, a range of environmental and microbiological factors were measured at three different fitness centres in a tropical environment with contrasting ventilation regimes, including an air-conditioned indoor facility, an indoor facility with natural ventilation and an outdoor, open-air facility. A parallel questionnaire survey of the attitudes of the exercisers toward their fitness centre’s environment and hygiene was also conducted. Measurement results indicate that airborne inhalable particulate matter (PM10), air speed (AS), temperature and relative humidity (RH) were statistically different among the three fitness centres. There were also significant differences in the bacteria and fungi levels, in the air and on equipment surfaces, in the three centres. A strong negative association between AS and PM10 (R2 = –0.98) was observed at the air-conditioned indoor fitness centre. When the results of all three fitness centres were combined, the airborne microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) were positively correlated to AS and RH, while those on equipment surfaces were negatively correlated. Temperature was found to be significantly correlated to an increase in the numbers of all types of microorganisms studied, except on-equipment-surface fungi. The attitudinal survey indicated that the participants were less stressed during exercises in the air-conditioned fitness centre.