Biological Air Pollutants, Big Threat to Baby's Health in the Flats

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 1 - 10, 30.06.2024

Elham Aghlara

Abstract

People spend about 90% of their life in the indoor environments soinvisible, indoor air pollution is one of the world’s main environmental risks that has great effect on human health and especially babies. This study undertaken in 120 flats in different districts of Ankara City. Concentration and type of bacteria and fungi identified in the flats where the babies spend most of of their time there. Also the health status of the babies and bioaerosols in the flats were evaluated. As a result, it is aimed to reveal the relationship between status of bioaerosols in flats and some health problems observed in the babies.
According to the sampling results, types of bacteria found inside the flats were, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Neisseria and Bacillus, gr (-) Bacillus and types of fungi were, Penicillium, Sporothrix, Aspergillosis, Rhizopus, Alternaria, Stachybotrys, Acreminum, Sporothrichum and White Colon‎y. Concentration of bacteria in the 76% of flats exceeded 500 CFU/m³ and inside 50% of flats exceeded 1000 CFU/m³. Also concentration of fungi in the 11 % of flats exceeded 500 CFU/m³ and inside 60% of flats exceeded 1000 CFU/m³. Moreover concentration of bacteria and fungi in the indoor environments were found respectively 5.75 and 3 times more than outdoor environments.
According to statistical results, 80% of babies living in these flats had respiratory infection, %1 of them had allergy, %15 of babies had other diseases (chronic diarrhea and constipation, fever) and %4 of babies didn’t have any health problem. Obtained results states that concentration and types of bioaerosols inside the flats severely affect the baby’s health. Skin irritation and allergies on the chin, cheeks and throat area, allergic reaction, itching and atopic dermatitis, allergic reactions, redness and itching on the baby’s legs and arms, redness and rough patches under the armpit, eczema, itching between baby’s toes, inflammation of the eyelid, yellow-brown pimples on baby’s face and back have been seen in babies living in the flats with high levels of bacteria and fungi.

Keywords

Biological Pollutants, baby’s health, Bioaerosol, indoor environments

Supporting Institution

Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Karabük Üniversity

Project Number

110Y082

Thanks

The author thanks to The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for his support during collection of the data. Karabük Üniversity

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