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ABSTRACT: This study was performed to investigate the possible sources as well as seasonal and diurnal variations of indoor air pollutants in widely used four different environments (house, office, kindergarten, and primary school) in which people spend most of their time. Bioaerosol levels and species, volatile organic compound (VOC) levels, and PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < or = 2.5 microm) levels were determined in different parts of these environments in parallel with outdoor sampling. Air pollution samplings were carried out in each microenvironment during five subsequent days in both winter and summer in Ankara, Turkey. The results indicated that bioaerosol, VOC, and PM2.5 levels were higher in the winter than in the summer. Moreover PM2.5 and bioaerosol levels showed remarkable daily and diurnal variations, whereas a good correlation was found between the VOC levels measured in the morning and in the afternoon. Bacteria levels were, in general, higher than fungi levels. Among the VOCs, toluene was the most predominant, whereas elevated n-hexane levels were also observed in the kindergarten and the primary school, probably due to the frequent wet cleaning during school days. According to factor analysis, several factors were found to be significantly influencing the indoor air quality (IAQ), and amongst them, VOC-based products used indoors ranked first. The overall results indicate that grab sampling in naturally ventilated places may overestimate or underestimate the IAQ due to the inhomogeneous composition of indoor air caused by irregular exchanges with the outdoor air according to the season and/or occupants' habits. Implications: Seasonal and diurnal variations of VOCs, PM2.5, bioaerosols in house, office, and schools were observed, in which PM2.5 and bioaeorosols showed marked both intra- and interday variability, but VOCs did not. VOC-containing products were the most common source of air pollutants affecting the indoor air quality. External factors affecting the indoor air quality were season and indirectly ventilation. A grab sample cannot be representative in evaluating the air quality of a naturally ventilated environment precisely.
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 12/2012; 62(12):1380-93. · 1.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Abstract
Seasonal and spatial variations of both levels and characteristics of airborne bacteria and fungi in various types of non-complaint indoor environments and their outdoors were investigated. Bioaerosol samples were collected by the single-stage Andersen sampler during the winter and summer seasons in Ankara, Turkey. Indoor and outdoor temperature, relative humidity (RH) and CO2 concentrations were also monitored online during the sampling. Bacteria levels in apartments were found to be considerably elevated when people were present. Significant relationships between bioaerosol levels and RH and CO2 concentrations (p<0.05) were found. Bacteria levels exhibited a seasonal variation, while fungi levels did not, probably due to lower fungi concentrations occurrence as a result of lower RH values (median: 30%). Measured low levels of fungi in this study may be due to geographical conditions, climatic factors, and other environmental conditions. The indoor to outdoor (I/O) ratio for bacteria levels were found to be significantly higher than 1.0, while indoor and outdoor fungi levels were similar. Winter to summer (W/S) ratios in the sampling site groups varied on a large scale for both culturable fungi concentrations (0.24–19.59) and total bacteria count (0.16–6.59). The most prominent bacteria were Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Bacillus spp., while the most predominant fungi were Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Cladosporium spp.
Indoor and Built Environment 11/2012; 21(6):797–810. · 2.00 Impact Factor
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CLEAN - Soil Air Water 06/2009; 37(6):487 - 493. · 2.18 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Bioaerosol samples were collected from 10 different districts (Beytepe, Tandoðan, Dikimevi, Kýzýlay,
Dikmen, Ulus, Altýndað, Kalaba, Ývedik and Demetevler) of Ankara city. In this study, spatial variation of
both bacteria and mold levels and species were investigated in which ambient bioaerosol samples collected
from these areas and influence of meteorological factors on bioaerosol levels were estimated by modeling.
Total bacteria concentrations ranged between 160 and 1560 CFU m-3. Temperature values were between
27 and 40ºC; relative humidity values were 10-40% and CO2 concentrations varied between 310 and 353
ppm, which were measured simultaneously with the sampling. Total mold levels ranged between 40 and 85
CFU m2. The most predominant bacteria species observed in all districts were Micrococcus spp. and Bacillus
species, while the most abundant mold were Exophiala, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium. According
to regression model, it was estimated that meteorological factors affected both levels of bacteria and mold
(p<0.05). Total bacteria level varied with temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation flux and
pressure (r2=0.90), while total mold level varied with wind speed and solar radiation flux (r2=0.70).
Ekoloji 01/2009; · 0.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The in vitro susceptibilities to several antibiotics of 136 Escherichia coli strains containing virulence factors isolated from children with urinary tract infection were analysed. Escherichia coli strains were analysed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction for genes encoding the following virulence factors: pyelonephritis-associated pili (pap); S fimbriae (sfa); afimbrial adhesin I (afaI); haemolysin (hly); cytotoxic necrotizing factor I (cnfI); and aerobactin (aer). It was observed that the virulence genes increased antibiotic resistance of resistant strains and increased the sensitivity of susceptible strains.
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 03/2008; 31 Suppl 1:S4-8. · 4.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study is cost and benefit analysis of biological and chemical removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] ions. Cost and benefit analysis were done with refer to two separate studies on removal of Cr(VI), one of heavy metals with a crucial role concerning increase in environmental pollution and disturbance of ecological balance, through biological adsorption and chemical ion-exchange. Methods of biological and chemical removal were compared with regard to their cost and percentage in chrome removal. According to the result of the comparison, cost per unit in chemical removal was calculated 0.24 euros and the ratio of chrome removal was 99.68%, whereas those of biological removal were 0.14 and 59.3% euros. Therefore, it was seen that cost per unit in chemical removal and chrome removal ratio were higher than those of biological removal method. In the current study where chrome removal is seen as immeasurable benefit in terms of human health and the environment, percentages of chrome removal were taken as measurable benefit and cost per unit of the chemicals as measurable cost.
Journal of Hazardous Materials 09/2007; 147(1-2):275-80. · 4.17 Impact Factor
