This study evaluated the bacterial concentrations and affecting factors at the laboratories of a university in Seoul,
Korea. Thirty-three samples of total airborne bacteria (TAB) and eighteen samples of gram negative bacteria (GNB)
were collected fr...
This study evaluated the bacterial concentrations and affecting factors at the laboratories of a university in Seoul,
Korea. Thirty-three samples of total airborne bacteria (TAB) and eighteen samples of gram negative bacteria (GNB)
were collected from both microbiology laboratories (7) and chemistry laboratories (6). GM (GSD) of TAB and
GNB concentrations were 194 (2.52) cfu/m3, 24 (4.1) cfu/m3, respectively. TAB concentrations in the chemical
laboratories (GM (GSD): 193 (2.0) cfu/m3) were not significantly different from those in microbial laboratories (GM
(GSD): 202 (2.7) cfu/m3, (p>0.05)). GM (GSD) of TAB concentrationsat the top of sink, the center of laboratory,
and the front of ventilation ventilation device within laboratories, 182 (3.2) cfu/m3, 217 (2.2) cfu/m3, 176 (2.4) cfu/
m3, respectively, were not significantly different (p=0.48). Related factors were measured such as temperature,
relative humidity, floor of laboratory, number of persons and laboratory area. TAB concentrations were significantly
related to temperature (r=0.36, p<0.05), and the floor of laboratory and temperature were also significantly related
(r=0.49, p<0.001). However, other factors such as relative humidity, number of persons and laboratory area did not
show any significant relationship with TAB concentrations (p>0.05). TAB concentrations were affected
significantly by cleaning frequency (p<0.001) and floor of laboratory (p<0.05). There was also a significant
difference (p<0.01) between TAB indoor concentrations and TAB outdoor concentrations. However, other factors
such as general ventilation did not affect TAB concentrations (p>0.05) in this study.