Bioaerosols study in central Taiwan during summer season

Suspended particles, of which bioaerosols are one type, constitute one of the main reasons to cause severe air quality in Taiwan. Bioaerosols include allergens such as fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, arthropods and protozoa, as well as microbial products such as mycotoxins, endotoxins and glucans. When allergens and microbial products are suspended in the air, local air quality will be influenced severely. In addition, when the particle size is small enough to pass through the respiratory tract entering the human body, the health of the local population is also threatened. Therefore, the purpose of this study attempted to understand the concentration and types of bacteria during summer period at four sampling sites in Taichung city, central Taiwan. The results indicated that total average bacterial concentration by using R2A medium incubated for 48 h were 7.3 × 102 and 1.2 × 103 cfu/m3 for Chung-Ming elementary sampling site during daytime and night-time period of summer season. In addition, total average bacterial concentration by using R2A medium incubated for 48 h were 2.2 × 103 and 2.5 × 103 cfu/m3 for Taichung refuse incineration plant sampling site during daytime and night-time period of summer season. As for Rice Field sampling site during daytime and night-time period of summer season, the results also reflected that the total average bacterial concentration by using R2A medium incubated for 48 h were 3.4 × 103 and 3.5 × 103 cfu/m3. Finally, total average bacterial concentration by using R2A medium incubated for 48 h were 1.6 × 103 and 1.9 × 103 cfu/m3 for Central Taiwan Science Park sampling site during daytime and night-time period of summer season. Moreover, the average bacterial concentration increased as the incubated time in a growth medium increased for particle sizes of 0.65—1.1, 1.1—2.1, 2.1—3.3, 3.3—4.7 and 4.7—7.0 μm. The total average bacterial concentration has no significant difference for day and night sampling period at any sampling site for the expression of bacterial concentration in term of order. The high average bacterial concentration was found in the particle size of 0.53—0.71 mm (average bioaerosol size was in the range of 2.1—4.7 μm) for each sampling site. Besides, there were exceeded 20 kinds of bacteria for each sampling site and the bacterial shape were rod, coccus and filamentous. Toxicology and Industrial Health 2007; 23: 133—139.