ABSTRACT
The microbial air quality of market places was evaluated for the presence of bacteria and fungi of public health importance. About ten samples were used in this study which were gotten from the following market places, Ndoru market, Ubani market, Orie-ugba market, Aria-aria market and Ahia-ohuru market. The total heterotrophic plate count (THPC) ranged from 3.1 x 102cfu/m3 to 9.0x102cfu/m3 while total fungal plate count (TFPC) ranged from 2.6x102cfu/m3 to 6.1x10x102cfu/m3 for market day. The total heterotrophic plate count (THPC) ranged from 2.9x102cfu/m3 to 6.2x101cfu/m3 while total fungal plate count (TFPC) ranged from 1.6x102cfu/m3 to 2.9x101cfu/m3 for non-market day. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp and Streptococcus spp. were isolated as bacterial isolates. Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer were isolated as fungal isolates. Occurrence of microbial isolates shows that Staphylococcus aureus 20% had the highest percentage occurrence while Bacillus sp 10%, Micrococcus sp 10%, Streptococcus spp 10% and Aspergillus niger 10% had the lowest occurrence. Aspergillus flavus 16.67% and Rhizopus stolonifer 13.33% had different counts. Considering all available threshold limits for bacterial concentrations in the air environments, it is clear that the market places are heavily loaded with bacteria. The relatively high concentration of bacteria and fungi in the air environments in this study may pose a little health hazard to immune-compromised individuals. Its recommended that hand should be washed immediately after visited the market places.The result of statistical analysis shows that there is significant different (P<0.05) amongst the mean values.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgments iv
Table of Contents
v
List of Tables vii
Abstract viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
Introduction 1
1.1 Definition of a
market place 1
1.1 Types of market in Abia state and
description 1
1.1.1 Local market 1
1.1.2 International market 2
1.2
Air 3
1.3 Air quality 3
1.4 Airborne microorganisms 4
1.5 Bioaerosols 5
1.6 Design of market
structures 6
1.6.1 Retail traders’
stalls 6
1.6.2 Producers’ stalls 6
1.6.3 Assembly market
sales area 7
1.6.4 Pedestrian and
vehicle circulation areas 7
1.6.5 Parking. 7
1.6.6 Ancillary facilities 7
1.6.7 Specialist users’ stalls 8
1.6.8 Livestock sales areas 8
1.6.9 Slaughter slabs 8
1.6.10 Storage 8
1.7 Standards for air
quality 8
1.8 Aim 10
1.8.1 Objectives 10
CHAPTER TWO
2.0
Literature
review 11
2.1
Microorganisms
found in market places 11
2.2 Interests in studying air quality 13
2.3
Methods of isolation and
identification of microorganism in market places 15
2.4 Effects of human activities on the
environments 16
2.5 Need for protective wears in markets
places 18
2.6
Mode of transmission of
diseases in market places 19
2.6.1 Dust as a vector of infectious diseases in outdoor environments 20
2.7 Airborne particle
transmission 21
CHAPTER
THREE
3.0 Materials and methods 24
3.1 Sample area 24
3.2 Media to be used 24
3.3 Sampling 24
3.4 Isolation of microorganism 25
3.5 Gram staining 25
3.6 Biochemical tests 26
3.6.1 Catalase test 26
3.6.2 Citrate test 26
3.6.3 Indole test 26
3.6.4 Methyl red test 27
3.6.5 Oxidase test 27
3.6.6 Coagulase test 27
3.8.7 Motility
test 28
3.7 Identification of fungi isolates 28
3.8 Frequency of occurrence 28
3.9 Statistical
analysis 29
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.0 Results 30
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Discussion, recommendation and
conclusion 36
5.1 Discussion 36
5.2 Conclusion 37
5.3 Recommendation 38
REFERENCES
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title Page
1 National standards for the six key air
pollutants 9
2
Viable microbial air quality
concentration of five different market in Abia state
metropolis
32
3 Statistical
analysis of results
33
4 Cultural,
microscopic, biochemical of microbial isolated from air concentration
of different
market places in Abia state metropolis
34
5 Cultural,
morphological and microscopic characteristics of fungal isolated
from air
concentrations of five different market places in Abia state 35
6 Occurrence of
microbial isolated from air concentration of five different market
in Abia state metropolis
36
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Definition
of a market place
A market, or marketplace, is a location
where people regularly gather for the purchase and sale of provisions,
livestock, and other goods. A market can
be defined as an actual or normal place where forces of demand and supply
operate, and where buyers and sellers interact (directly or through
intermediaries) to trade goods, services or contracts or instruments for money.
In different parts of the world, a market place may be described as a souk
(from the Arabic), bazaar (from the Persian), a fixed mercado (Spanish), or
itinerant tianguis (Mexico), or palengke
(Philippines) (Casson and Lee, 2011).In Nigeria, the Igbo speaking people of
South-East call market “Ahia”, Yoruba speaking people of South-West call market
“Oja” and while Hausa speaking people of the North “Kasuwar”. Some markets
operate daily and are said to be permanent markets while others are held once a
week or on less frequent specified days such as festival days and are said to
be periodic markets (Casson and Lee, 2011).
1.1 TYPES OF MARKET IN
ABIA STATE AND DESCRIPTION
1.1.1 Local market
Local market can be defined as a localized business usually in small stalls erected used to sell
goods and render services to mainly individuals living within and are limited
to some goods they do not sell all the products and services.
Local market in Umuahia and Aba comprises of Orie-Ugba,
Ndoru, Ahia-ohuru, etc sells goods which
are mainly from peasant farm. They contain small stalls which they sells goods
which includes food stuffs and other locally made materials (Wikipedia, 2011).Most
Local markets operate in four different market days which includes, Eke, Orie,
Afo and Nkwo and the market days are always rotatory. Example of this kind of
market can be found in Ndoru, Orie-ugba.
1.1.2 International market
Some international market found in Umuahia
and Aba includes, Ubani International Market and Aria-aria international market
respectively. A lot of good ranging from food stuffs, house use equipment’s,
chemicals, medicine and livestocks, clothes etc are sold in big quantities in
the market. The activities in the markets listed above attracts lots of people
from all works of life who buys good from the market. As they troop in their
thousands, sands and dust in the market environments are disturbed which contaminate
the air present in environments. The air which are released from the mouth of
buyer and sellers and as they sneezes also contaminate the air in the environment.
The dust which comes out from the engine which grind cereal products mix with
the dust in the surroundings which along contaminates the air. Markets have existed for as long as humans
have engaged in trade. Informal markets gradually made way for a system of
formal, chartered markets across Europe during the Medieval period. Regulation
of market place practices gave consumer’s confidence in the quality of market
goods and the fairness of prices. In many countries, shopping at a local market
is a standard feature of daily life (Vande, 2015).
International market operates daily and
people buy good and services rendered to them in a modernized method. Example
international market in Abia state includes Ariaria international market and
Ubani Ultra modern market.
1.2
AIR
Air is a
mixture of gases which does not constitute an adequate environment for
microorganisms as it fails to provide nutrients and good physico-chemical
conditions. Failing to provide nutrients and good physicochemical conditions,
the air, a mixture of gases, does not constitute an adequate environment for
microorganisms. However, microorganisms suspended in the air in the form of
bioaerosol significantly affect air quality (Dacarro et al., 2003). Bioaerosol is a collection of
biological particles dispersed in the air or the gas phase. It consists of
single spores, pollen, bacterial cells and viruses, aggregates of spores,
cells, and other biological material, products or fragments of mycelium, fungal
spores and bacterial cells (endotoxins and mytotoxins), biological material
lifted from the ground on its own accord or carried by bigger non-biological
particles (Chmiel et al., 2015).
1.3 AIR QUALITY
Air quality is one of the most significant
factor affecting the health and well – being of people. It has been reported
that a single person inhale’s an average of approximately 10m3 of
air every-day (Dacarro et al., 2003).
However, the air inhaled by people is abundantly loaded with microorganisms
which form part of the bioaerosol (Gorny, 2004). Bioaerosol is a colloidal
suspension, formed by droplets and particles of solid matter in the air, whose
components can contain or have attached to them viruses, fungal spores and
conidia, bacterial endospores, plant pollen and fragments of plant tissues
(Karwowska 2005). Biological contamination of air is mostly caused by bacteria,
moulds and yeasts (Flannigan, 2001; Daisey et
al., 2003; Pieckova and Kunova, 2002). They can be dangerous as pathogenic
living cells but they also secrete some substances harmful to human health
(Gutarowska and Jakubowska, 2001).
1.4 AIRBORNE
MICROORGANISMS
Airborne microorganisms are usually
derived from various natural sources such as soil, animals, and humans (Posfai et al., 2003; Mouli et al., 2005; Fang et al.,
2007). Human activities such as sewage treatment, plants and animals rendering,
fermentation processes and agricultural activities do emit microorganisms into
the air (Recer et al., 2001; Adhikari
et al., 2004; Gillum and Leventin,
2008). Several studies have identify human activities like talking, sneezing
and coughing (Kalogeraskis et al.,
2005), while other activities such as vehicular transportation and human
movements, washing in homes and business centres, flushing of toilets and
sewages, sweeping of floors and roadsides can generate bioaerosols indirectly
(Kalogeraskis et al., 2005; Chen and
Hildermann, 2009)Biological particles get into the atmosphere in many ways: removed
from the surface of soil and plants, carried by the wind or lifted by means of
thermal convection, released (either spontaneously or by rainfall) from natural
bodies of water (Kulkarni et al.,
2011). Qualitative and quantitative composition of bioaerosol depends on time
and location. Constituting 70% of the microbial population, filamentous fungi (Cladosporium,
Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus) are typically the
main component of bioaerosols (d’amatago et
al., 2000). Saprophytic bacteria belonging to the genera Micrococcus and
Bacillus constitute another numerous group. In contrast, actinomycetes
and yeast (belonging to the genera Torulopsis, Rhodotorula, Candida,
Saccharomyces) represent only 5% of the microorganisms isolated from the
air (Marta et al., 2007).
Epidemiologial studies show that high concentration of microorganisms in the
air can be allergenic. Sometimes, however, even very low concentrations of
particular microorganisms can cause serious diseases. Fungal allergens may
trigger symptoms of respiratory disorders and skin diseases in susceptible
patients (Twaroch et al., 2015).
Exposure to molds may have multiple health effects: it can cause allergies in
people with poor resistance can result in severe opportunistic infections
(Wiszniewska et al., 2004).Fungal
conidia present in the air contain extremely high amounts of mycotoxins (Karwowska,
2005). They cause skin infections and toxemias characterized by headaches,
diarrhea, changes to immunological mechanisms and damage to the liver, kidneys
and central nervous system, and they can also be carcinogenic (Golofit-szymczak
and Skowron, 2005).Presence of microorganisms in the air is ubiquitous but
their proportion varies according to the environmental conditions and
locations. Markets are characterized as a human activity enriched site and also
a highly trafficked site. People in these areas are actively engaged in various
activities, responsible for generation of higher quantity of bioaerosols.
1.5 BIOAEROSOLS
Bioaerosols are airborne particles
that are living (bacteria, viruses and fungi) or originated from living
organisms (Douwes et al., 2003).
Spore-forming bacteria and fungi are able to survive in bioaerosols and stay viable
for a long time in the air but the situation becomes worse when they are able
to multiply in these aerosols. It is generally known that bioaerosols present
in the air can affect human health, causing mainly respiratory and related
diseases transmitted via respiratory route, allergic and toxic reactions. In
addition, long-term contact of people with bioaerosols can be a source of
serious illnesses; can influence a person’s mental power and learning ability.
Some previous study has also reported high level of potential hazardous
bioaerosols in the similar environments (Pathak and Verma, 2009). Exposure to
these bioaerosols can impose adverse effect on local inhabitants as well as
tourists. For the above reasons, it is important to monitor air quality in
places of increased risk of biological contamination in storage premises where
food items are stored, in places where people spend time every day, like
dwelling places, public utility buildings and atmospheric air in the streets of
towns with heavy traffic (Donderski et
al., 2005).
1.6 DESIGN OF
MARKET STRUCTURES
1.6.1 Retail traders’ stalls: These are likely to be fixed-roofed stalls, rented on a monthly
or annual basis. Often the stalls are provided with lock-up storage facilities
(for example, under a raised platform or counter). In some circumstances, such
as for the sale of meat, fish or dairy products, the stall may be enclosed with
wire mesh. Sometimes separate lock-up shops for butchers and fishmongers are
also provided. Stalls for non-food items should be located in a separate area (Pathak and Verma, 2009).
1.6.2 Producers’ stalls.: These may be similar to the retailers’ stalls, but are usually
rented on a daily basis. The premises normally have a roof over them, but are
not usually provided with lock-up storage facilities. Sales may be made from a
marked area on the floor, from a raised platform or fixed counter, or from
trestle tables that can be folded and stored at the end of the trading day (Pathak and Verma, 2009).
1.6.3 Assembly market sales area: Assembly activities often take place on temporary spaces, which
are mainly used during the peak harvesting season. The simplest form is where
the sales take place in a parking area, the producers bringing their produce up
to the trucks of the traders. Alternatively, a roofed market hall can be
provided, in which the producers lay out their crops for purchase by traders
who carry them to their trucks. In some countries, such as many in the Near
East, commission agents operate in assembly markets. An alternative sales
method is for crops to be auctioned to the assemblers, either by commission
agents or by the market operators. In this case it is normal to provide a
separate auction area on a raised concrete slab (Donderski et al., 2005).
1.6.4 Pedestrian and
vehicle circulation areas: In rural
markets these are usually the same areas (unlike larger urban retail or
wholesale markets where there is often segregation).There must be adequate
circulation around all the trading areas, so that produce can be brought in or
taken out with minimum obstruction (Donderski et al.,
2005).
1.6.5 Parking: Parking provision is needed for service vehicles, delivery
vehicles and visitors. This should include space for non-motorized transport,
such as bicycles, motor bikes and ox-carts. In most primary retail markets the
provision can be minimal, but in assembly markets greater consideration must be
given to providing organized parking areas (Donderski et al., 2005).
1.6.6 Ancillary
facilities: These usually include a
cleaner’s store, an office for the market manager, public toilets, standpipes
for fresh water and garbage collection points (Kulkarni et al., 2011).
Other market
structures and uses
1.6.7 Specialist users’
stalls: Retailers’ or producers’
stalls provided for specialist or targeted users, such as women traders,
producer groups or cooperatives (Kulkarni et al., 2011).
1.6.8 Livestock sales
areas: Livestock sales are normally
undertaken outdoors, preferably in a fenced enclosure or ring. A livestock
market needs space for holding live animals, with temporary shade space and
water points. Many rural markets also have a separate area for live poultry (Kulkarni et al., 2011).
1.6.9 Slaughter
slabs: Sales are usually of live
animals, but slaughter facilities are sometimes provided, particularly in rural
retail markets. The simplest arrangement is a concrete slab, with a hoisting
rail, water supply and effective drainage (Golofit-szymczak and Skowron,
2005).
1.6.10 Storage: Most rural markets deal in fresh produce for which storage
provision is not necessary. However, small lockable chests for overnight
storage may be provided, for example, in markets where grains or other
nonperishable crops are sold (Golofit-szymczak and Skowron, 2005).
1.7 STANDARDS
FOR AIR QUALITY
The National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC) is a
statutory body with law making powers established under the National
Environment Protection Council Act 1994 (Commonwealth) and corresponding
legislation in the other jurisdictions. The members of National Enviromental
Protection Measure are Ministers, not necessarily environment Ministers,
representing the participating jurisdictions (i.e. Commonwealth, State or
Territory Governments) (Golofit-szymczak and Skowron, 2005).
The air National Environment Protection
Measure sets national standards for the
six key air pollutants to which most continents in the world are exposed:
carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead and particles.
Under the Air National Environmental Protection Measure all continents have the
same level of air quality protection. The standards, which are set out below,
are legally binding on each level of Government, and must be met by the year
2018. The Air National Environment
Protection Measure (NEPM )requires the jurisdictions to monitor air
quality and this helps to identify potential air quality problems. All
jurisdictions commenced formal reporting against the Air NEPM standards in 2002
(Golofit-szymczak
and Skowron, 2005).
Table
1: National standards for the six key
air pollutants
|
POLLUTANT
|
AVERAGING PERIOD
|
MAXIMUM (AMBIENT CONC.)
|
GOAL WITHIN 10 YEARS
(MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE EXCEEDENCES)
|
|
Carbon-monoxide
|
8 hrs
|
9.0 ppm
|
1 day a year
|
|
Nitrogen dioxide
|
1 hour
|
0.12 ppm
|
1 day a year
|
|
Photochemical oxidants
|
1 hour
|
0.10 ppm
|
1 day a year
|
|
Sulfur dioxide
|
1 hour
|
0.20 ppm
|
1 day a year
|
|
Lead
|
1 year
|
0.50 µg/m3
|
none
|
|
Particles as PM10
|
1 day
|
50 µg/m3
|
5 days a year
|
Source: (NEPM, 2002).
1.8 AIM
i. To assess the microbial air quality of market places
1.8.1 Objectives
i.
To determine
the bacteria counts in open market places
ii.
To determine
the fungal counts in market places
iii.
To compare
the microbial counts in local and international markets
iv.
To compare
the microbial load between market days and non-market days
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