Abstract
Introduction: Sick building syndrome has been associated with the occupation of office buildings. The causes of the syndrome are factors that act in combination, with an outstanding role played by microbiota that spreads through the air or other elements, or by individuals to different areas of the building. Objective: Determine the fungal and bacterial composition and its relationship with environmental parameters such as temperature and relative humidity, as well as symptoms associated with Sick Building Syndrome. Methodology: Samples were taken in the Warehouse and Inventory office, which was subdivided into 6 sectors of approximately 8.6 m2 each. An air impactor was used for quantitative estimation of bacteria and fungi, and temperature and relative humidity data were recorded. Four weekly samplings were collected, yielding a total of 144 samples. Employees were surveyed about symptoms associated with Sick Building Syndrome. Results: Microbial concentrations were within recommended indoor limits. A higher bacterial concentration (x̄ = 54.39 ± 54.51 CFU/m3) with eight species was found, showing higher frequency Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Fungi showed lower abundance but greater diversity, with 23 genera, where Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., and Rhizopus sp., outstood. An association was established between exposure to microbial aerosols, occupation, and recorded environmental parameters. Conclusions: Combining indoor microbial load data with the health effects caused by the inhalation of specific microorganisms in aerosols will allow the assessment of various health risks for workers.
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