A Study on the Microbial Air Pollution of Urban Living and Indoor Environment

생활환경과 실내공기의 미생물학적 오염에 관한연구

This study was carried out to investigate the microbial characteristics of the urban air pollution in the subway stations, streets, department stores, wholesale markets, underground shopping centers, buildings, parks, houses and apartments in the Seoul and the suburbs area. Total cell count, total mold count and the presence of opportunistic pathogens(Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp.) were evaluated determine the microbial air quality. Total cell count and mold count of indoor air in the houses and apartments were 2.9$\times$10$^2$-6.3$\times$10$^2$cfu/㎥ and 60-1.8$\times$10$^2$cfu/㎥, respectively, and the department stores and wholesale markets had much lower cell count than the houses and apartments. Ground level of commercial stations were 2.6 fold higher than the general subway stations, and Apergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. which could cause the bronchus and lung diseases were detected 17 sampling site out of 45. Dust were collected from the commercial facilities and houses, and total cell and mold count of the dust were 4.3$\times$10$^3$-1.7$\times$10$^{6}$ cfu/g and 2.3$\times$10$^3$-6.5 $\times$10$^4$cfu/g, respectively. Therefore the dust might be one of the main reservoir of microorganims.