ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Airborne Mesophilic Bacteria
at the Ciechocinek Health Reso
Aleksandra Burkowska, Agnieszka Kalwasińska, Maciej Walczak
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Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Ecology and Environment Protection,
Nicholas Copernicus University, Gagarina 9, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(2):307-312
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to determine microbiological air quality in the Ciechocinek health
resort and to identify the most common mesophilic bacteria present in the air. Sampling sites were located in
the surroundings of inhalators (graduation towers and the “Grzyb” fountain), in recreation areas (promenade,
parks), and urban areas. Samples were obtained by the impaction method in a Merck MAS-100 microbial airsampler.
Enumeration of mesophilic bacteria was conducted according to the Polish Standard (PN86/Z-
04111/02). Bacterial strains were identified with appropriate API tests (bioMérieux). Due to the specific microclimate
and low levels of microbiological air pollution, Ciechocinek can be considered an excellent upper respiratory
tract spa. The lowest numbers of the investigated types of bacteria were found around the open inhalators.
In the Ciechocinek area bacteria commonly occurring in air prevailed. Gram-positive bacilli (mainly
Bacillus genus) were the most common among the isolated bacteria (53.8% of all strains), and Gram-positive
cocci (Staphylococcus, Micrococcus) also were abundant (28%). The least abundant were Gram-negative rods
(Pseudomonas, Serratia). Potentially pathogenic species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecium,
Aeromonas hydrofila) were found sporadically.