Atmospheric aerosol particles were investigated at GNTECH university in Jinju city. Samples were collected using the Nanosampler period from January to December 2014. The Nanosampler is a 6 stage cascade impactor(1 stage : > 10 μm, 2 stage : 2.5~10 μm, 3 stage : 1.0~2.5 μm, 4 stage : 0.5~1.0 μm, 5 stage : 0.1~0.5 μm, back-up : < 0.1 μm) with the stages having 50% cut-off ranging from 0.1 to 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter.The mass size distribution of Atmospheric aerosol particles was unimodal with peak at 1.0~2.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination levels in elevators in apartment buildings and to provide information on such microbial contamination.
Methods:A total of 144 samples, including from the exterior buttons, interior buttons, elevator handrails, walls, ventilators and airborne bacteria were collected in the morning and afternoon from July to August 2013 for six different elevators. The samples were used to detect sanitary indicator bacteria (total bacteria, coliform, and Escherichia coli), pathogenic bacteria (E. coli O157, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., B. cereus, S. aureus) and fungi.Results: Contamination levels of total bacteria were 0.3-3.8 and 0.0-2.4 log CFU/100 cm 2 in the morning and afternoon, respectively. In the case of coliform bacteria, the levels were 0.0-3.7 log CFU/ 100 cm 2 in the morning and 0.0-0.3 log CFU/ 100 cm 2 in the afternoon. However, E. coli was not detected among all samples. Bacillus cereus, pathogenic bacteria, was only detected in 13 (11%) among 144 samples. E. coli O157, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. and S. aureus were not detected among all samples. Comparing the samples collected in the morning and afternoon, we could confirm that the samples in the afternoon were cleaner.
Conclusions:This study indicates that the samples in the afternoon were cleaner because these samples were collected following routine cleaning. Also, the levels of contamination in the elevators were low and the sanitary conditions were comparatively well-managed. Therefore it is deemed necessary for elevators be cleaned regularly to provide good conditions for people using elevators.
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