Indoor airborne microbial load in a Spanish university (University of Murcia, Spain)

Authors

  • Teresa Soto
  • Rosa M. García Murcia
  • Alejandro Franco
  • Jerónima Vicente Soler
  • José Cansado
  • Mariano Gacto
Keywords: microbial aerial load, indoor bacteria and fungi, air quality

Abstract

The control of indoor air is related to the guarantee of quality for in- ternal environments. The air of representative areas within the Fac- ulty of Biology of the University of Murcia (Spain) was analyzed to determine the level of microbial types most frequently found in suspension. Samples were collected by an impaction method and viable counts (bacteria and fungi) determined both in absence or presence of human activities to evaluate the human contribution to the microbial contamination. Also, a comparison between indoor and outdoor microbial population densities showed that the bacterial concentration was higher inside than in the outside. Most bacteria identified were gram-positive cocci belonging to Micrococcus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, whereas Cladosporium was the predominant genus isolated among fungi. The microbi- al concentration of indoor air was within a range which indicates a low-intermediate level of contamination according to the guidelines established in 1993 by the European Community Commission.

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Author Biographies

Teresa Soto

Departamento de Genética y MicrobiologíaFacultad de BiologíaUniversidad de MurciaMurciaSpain

Rosa M. García Murcia

Departamento de Genética y MicrobiologíaFacultad de BiologíaUniversidad de MurciaMurciaSpain

Alejandro Franco

Departamento de Genética y MicrobiologíaFacultad de BiologíaUniversidad de MurciaMurciaSpain

Jerónima Vicente Soler

Departamento de Genética y MicrobiologíaFacultad de BiologíaUniversidad de MurciaMurciaSpain

José Cansado

Departamento de Genética y MicrobiologíaFacultad de BiologíaUniversidad de MurciaMurciaSpain

Mariano Gacto

Departamento de Genética y MicrobiologíaFacultad de BiologíaUniversidad de MurciaMurciaSpain
How to Cite
Soto, T., García Murcia, R. M., Franco, A., Vicente Soler, J., Cansado, J., & Gacto, M. (2009). Indoor airborne microbial load in a Spanish university (University of Murcia, Spain). Anales de Biología, (31), 109–115. Retrieved from https://revistas.um.es/analesbio/article/view/110681
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