Airborne dust, bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi at a flourmill

A study was carried out on suspended dust, bacterial and fungal aerosols in a four-storey flourmill building located in Giza, Egypt. Airborne microorganisms were quantitatively isolated using liquid impinger and gravimetric samplers during the period from March 2004 to February 2005. Suspended dust varied from 1.96 to 16.3 mg m(-3) and 0.69 to 1.8 mg m-3 in the indoor and outdoor environments, respectively. Suspended dust was significantly greater (P < 0.05) at bran package, double roller, purifiers and flour storage units in comparison to the outdoor reference site. The dust levels exceed the occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 0.5 mg m(-3) for flour dust. Airborne microbial counts were found at median values, between sampling locations, ranged from 0 to > 10(4) CFU m(-3). Gram-negative bacteria were found in small numbers (0-10(2) CFU m(-3)). The highest concentration of actinomycetes (> 10(3) CFU m(-3)) was detected in the storage unit. Airborne fungal counts were found at the median values, between sampling locations, varied from 10(3) to 10(4) CFU m(-3). The counts of airborne bacteria and fungi were significantly greater ( P < 0.05) at the purifiers and double roller mill units in comparison to the outdoor reference site using the liquid impinger sampler. Microbial levels associated with bulk deposited dust averaged between 10(5) and 10(6) CFU g(-1). Alcaligenes (5.4%) Pseudomonas (3.87%) and Enterobacter (3.1%) were the predominant Gram-negative species while Bacillus (29.4%) and Micrococci (13.9%) were the major components of Gram-positive bacteria. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the predominant fungal types indoor whereas Cladosporium (35.2%) and Aspergillus species (22.2%) were the predominant fungal types outdoor. A number of allergenic and toxigenic bioaerosols were found in the flourmill workplace.