BIOAEROSOLS IN A RESEARCH LABORATORY

Shiaka, G.P., Yakubu, S.E., and Olonitola, S.O.

Department of Microbiology

Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria

Laboratory procedures can generate aerosolized particles that are respirable and therefore potentially hazardous to the laboratory workers including researchers. Bioaerosols in the indoor environment of a postgraduate research laboratory in the Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria were investigated within a period of 16 weeks in the year 2007. The highest bacterial count: 8.3 × 10³ cfu/ml and lowest: 0.95 × 10² cfu/ml were  obtained in 2^nd and 4^th week while the highest: 4.0 × 10³ cfu/ml and lowest: 0.41 × 10³ fungal counts were obtained in 16^th week and 4^th week of sampling respectively. The correlation is significant between the bacterial and fungal mean concentration (p<0.05) using t-test (two tailed), Kendall’s and Spearman’s rho correlation analysis. Some of the representatives which constituted bacteria and fungi isolated in this study include Staphylococcusspp, Bacillussubtilis, Pseudomonasaeruginosa, Proteus spp, Klebsiella spp, Aspergillusniger, Mold and Fusarium. These organisms could significantly deteriorate indoor air quality therefore, safe microbiological principles and practices must be highly esteemed.

Keywords: Aerosol, Bacteria, Fungi, Indoor, Laboratory,