Keywords
Fungi
Indoor air pollution
Sick building syndrome
Humidy
Aerosol
How to Cite
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.
References
Shammi M, Rahman MM, Tareq SM. Distribution of bioaerosols in association with particulate matter: A review on emerging public health threat in Asian megacities. Front Environ Sci. 2021; 9: 698215. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.698215
Kim K, Kabir E, Jahan S. Airborne bioaerosols and their impact on human health. J Environ Sci (China). 2018; 67: 23-35. doi: https://doi.org/:10.1016/j.jes.2017.08.027
Heo KJ, Lim CE, Kim HB, Lee BU. Effects of human activities on concentrations of culturable bioaerosols in indoor air environments. J Aerosol Sci. 2017; 104: 58-65. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2016.11.008
Wang S, Qian H, Sun Z, Cao G, Ding P, Zheng X. Comparison of airborne bacteria and fungi in different built environments in selected cities in five climate zones of China. Sci Total Environ. 2023; 860: 160445. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160445
Hou P, Zu K, Qin M, Cui S. A novel metal-organic frameworks based humidity pump for indoor moisture control. Build Environ. 2021; 187: 107396. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107396
Adams RI, Bhangar S, Pasut W, Arens EA, Taylor JW, Lindow SE, et al. Chamber bioaerosol study: outdoor air and human occupants as sources of indoor airborne microbes. PLoS One 2015; 10(5): e0128022-e0128022. doi: https://doi.org/:10.1371/journal.pone.0128022
Licina D, Nazaroff WW. Clothing as a transport vector for airborne particles: Chamber study. Indoor Air 2018; 28(3): 404-414. doi: https://doi.org/:10.1111/ina.12452
Guo K, Qian H, Ye J, Sun F, Zhuge Y, Wang S, et al. Assessment of airborne bacteria and fungi in different-type buildings in Nanjing, a hot summer and cold winter moist Chinese city. Build Environ. 2021; 205: 108258. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108258
Fan C, Li Y, Liu P, Mu F, Xie Z, Lu R, et al. Characteristics of airborne opportunistic pathogenic bacteria during autumn and winter in Xi’an, China. Sci Total Environ. 2019; 672: 834-845. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.412
Franchitti E, Caredda C, Anedda E, Traversi D. Urban aerobiome and effects on human health: a systematic review and missing evidence. J Atmos. 2022; 13(7): 1148. doi: https://doi.org/:10.3390/atmos13071148
Madsen AM, Moslehi-Jenabian S, Frankel M, White JK, Frederiksen MW. Airborne bacterial species in indoor air and association with physical factors. UCL open Environ. 2023; 5: e056. doi: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000056
Li X, Qiu Y, Yu A, Shi W, Chen G, Zhang Z, et al. Characteristics of airborne Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) in Chinese public buildings. Aerobiologia. 2015; 31(1): 11-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-014-9342-6
Sharpe RA, Bearman N, Thornton CR, Husk K, Osborne NJ. Indoor fungal diversity and asthma: a meta-analysis and systematic review of risk factors. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015; 135(1): 110-122. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.002
Baxi SN, Portnoy JM, Larenas-Linnemann D, Phipatanakul W. Exposure and health effects of fungi on humans. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2016; 4(3): 396-404. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2016.01.008
Pyrri I, Tripyla E, Zalachori A, Chrysopoulou M, Parmakelis A, Kapsanaki-Gotsi E. Fungal contaminants of indoor air in the National Library of Greece. Aerobiologia. 2020; 36(3): 387-400. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-020-09640-0
Onmek N, Kongcharoen J, Singtong A, Penjumrus A, Junnoo S. Environmental factors and ventilation affect concentrations of microorganisms in hospital wards of Southern Thailand. J Environ Public Health. 2020; 2020: 7292198. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7292198
Qiu Y, Zhou Y, Chang Y, Liang X, Zhang H, Lin X, et al. The effects of ventilation, humidity, and temperature on bacterial growth and bacterial genera distribution. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(22): 15345. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215345
Burge PS. Sick building syndrome. Occup Environ Med. 2004; 61(2): 185–190. doi: 10.1136/oem.2003.008813.
Yussuf SM, Dahir G, Salad AM, Hayir TMM, Hassan SA, Gele A. Sick building syndrome and its associated factors among adult people living in Hodan district Moqadishu Somalia. Front Built Environ. 2023; 9. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1218659
Aziz N, Adman MA, Suhaimi NS, Misbari S, Alias AR, Aziz AA, et al. Indoor air quality (IAQ) and related risk factors for sick building syndrome (SBS) at the office and home: a systematic review. IOP Conf Ser: Earth Environ Sci. 2023; 1140(1): 012007. doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1140/1/012007
Feller W. An introduction to the probability theory and its application. New York: John Wiley and sons Inc; 1950. p. 175.
Simpson EH. Measurement of diversity. Nature. 1949; 163(4148): 688. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/163688a0
Górny R, Dutkiewicz J, Krysińska-Traczyk E. Size distribution of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols in indoor air. Ann Agric Environ Med. 1999; 6(2): 105-113.
Carrazana E, Ruiz-Gil T, Fujiyoshi S, Tanaka D, Noda J, Maruyama F, et al. Potential airborne human pathogens: A relevant inhabitant in built environments but not considered in indoor air quality standards. Sci Total Environ. 2023; 901: 165879. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165879
Kumar P, Kausar MA, Singh AB, Singh R. Biological contaminants in the indoor air environment and their impacts on human health. Air Qual Atmos Health. 2021; 14(11): 1723-1736. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-00978-z
Abdel-Aziz RA, Samir R. Impact of traffic densities on indoor air quality. World J Adv Res Rev. 2019; 1: 66-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2019.1.3.0027
Salunkhe AR, Dudhwadkar S, Raju NP, Tandon S. Public health risk assessment and speciation of air-borne microorganisms in an office building. J Aerosol Sci. 2024: 106362. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2024.106362
Mui KW, Chan WY, Wong LT, Hui PS. Scoping indoor airborne fungi in an excellent indoor air quality office building in Hong Kong. Build Serv Eng Res T Journal. 2010; 31(2): 191-199. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624409359752
Alli Abosede S, Ana Godson Rowland EE. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of bioaerosols and meteorological conditions of selected salons in four areas of Ibadan North Local Government area. Environ Monit Ana. 2017; 5(3): 83-90. doi: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20170503.13
Lee H, Lee BG, Kim YJ, Shim JE, Yeo M-K. Assessment of airborne bacteria in the indoor of public-use facilities concentrated on influencing factors and opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. Air Qual Atmos Health. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-024-01540-3
Nikiyan H, Vasilchenko A, Deryabin D. Humiditydependent bacterial cells functional morphometry investigations using atomic force microscope. Int. J. Microbiol. 2010; 2010: 704170. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/704170
Brągoszewska E, Biedroń I, Kozielska B, Pastuszka JS. Microbiological indoor air quality in an office building in Gliwice, Poland: analysis of the case study. Air Qual Atmos Health. 2018; 11(6): 729-740. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0579-z
Layshock JA, Pearson B, Crockett K, Brown MJ, Van Cuyk S, Daniel WB, et al. Reaerosolization of Bacillus spp. in outdoor environments: a review of the experimental literature. Biosecurity and bioterrorism: biodefense strategy, practice, and science. Biosecur Bioterror. 2012; 10(3): 299-303. doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/bsp.2012.0026
Almatawah QA, Al-Rashidi MS, Yassin MF, Varghese JS. Microbiological contamination of indoor and outdoor environments in a desert climate. Environ Monit Assess. 2022; 194(5): 355. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10032-9
Botzenhart K, Döring G. Ecology and epidemiologyof pseudomonas aeruginosa. In: Campa M, Bendinelli M, Friedman H, editors. Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an Opportunistic Pathogen. Boston, MA: Springer US; 1993. p. 1-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3036-7_1
White JK, Nielsen JL, Larsen CM, Madsen AM. Impact of dust on airborne Staphylococcus aureus’ viability, culturability, inflammogenicity, and biofilm forming capacity. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2020; 230: 113608. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113608
Kozajda A, Jeżak K, Kapsa A. Airborne Staphylococcus aureus in different environments-a review. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019; 26(34): 34741-34753. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06557-1
Haleem Khan AA, Mohan Karuppayil S. Fungal pollution of indoor environments and its management. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2012; 19(4): 405-426. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2012.06.002
Fashola MO, Ajilogba CF, Aremu BR, Babalola OO. Capítulo 7 - Airborne fungi and mycotoxins. En: Ilori MO, Obayori OS, Salam LB, editors. Aeromicrobiology: Academic Press; 2023. p. 147-75. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-96122-6.00007-4
Fujiyoshi S, Tanaka D, Maruyama F. Transmission of airborne bacteria across built environments and its measurement standards: a review. Front Microbiol. 2017; 8: 2336. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02336
Bolashikov ZD, Melikov AK. Methods for air cleaning and protection of building occupants from airborne pathogens. Build Environ. 2009; 44(7): 1378-1385. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.09.001
Wolkoff P, Azuma K, Carrer P. Health, work performance, and risk of infection in office-like environments: The role of indoor temperature, air humidity, and ventilation. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2021; 233: 113709. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113709
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2024 Laura Yinneth Ávila-Durán, Erika Julieth Blanco-Flórez, Luz Marina Lizarazo-Forero