Air microbiology

Mcb 417

Sources of microorganisms in air

Dr T.O Agbabiaka
Air is not a natural flora
Does not contain enough nutrient for
growth
Soil is the most important source of
air micro flora
From soil, Wind and human activities
release mos into the air
Water release mos into the air inform
of aerosols and water droplets
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 Mos can also be released from plant

and animal surfaces
The main source of air borne mos is
human beings

Droplets

>10um in diameter
Sneezing, coughing, or talking
Consist of saliva and mucus
The size of the droplet determines
the time of suspension
Relatively large

Droplet nuclei
1-10um
Dried residue of droplets
Sneezing generate the most droplet
nuclei(tens of thousands)

INFECTIOUS DUST
It is larger than droplet nuclei

Distribution of microorganism in air

No mo is indigenous to the atmosphere

The air rep allochtonous population
Mos of air btw 300-1000 ft are mos of soil
More mos are found in air overland masses than
far at sea(bcos of R.H and more mos on land)
Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus
more over land up to 10,000ft
Found over populated land areas below 500ft in
clear weather, Bacillus and Clostridium
Small droplets dry before they reach the floor in
warm dry air
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Factors affecting survival of mos in

air
Intrinsic factors;- the nature and physiological state
of mos as well as the state of suspension
Spores of bacteria are more abundant than bacteria
bcos the spores are resistant to
Dessication
Inadequate nutrient
Ultraviolent radiation

Smaller microorganisms are easily liberated into the

air
Fungi mycellial has a larger size so only fragment will
remain in air
Settle out rapidly in stil air
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Extrinsic factors
Atmospheric temperature
Relative humidity
Optimum R.H for most mos is
40_80%
Almost all viruses survive at 17-25%
R.H
An increase temperature leads to
decrease in survival time
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Mechanism of adaptation

Adjustment of living matter

Physiological adaptation
Environmental adaptation
Living organisms require oxygen
from air or water
Yeast and bacteria obtain oxygen
from molcs that has the element
Organisms undergo genetic mutation
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