Environmental factors associated with indoor microbial aerosols in residential apartments in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the health outcomes associated with exposure to indoor microbial aerosols, the environmental factors contributing to indoor microbial proliferation in residential environments have not been extensively investigated. This study assessed factors associated with indoor bacterial and fungal aerosols in residential apartments within Ibadan, Nigeria. A 12-month survey on housing characteristics and estimation of indoor bacterial and fungal aerosols was carried out in a sample of 356 residential apartments in Ibadan using a standardized home walkthrough checklist and an indoor sampling method. Indoor levels of microbial concentration, total bacterial count, total fungal count, richness ( R ) and Simpson diversity ( D ) were assessed and categorized as either high (>median) or low (≤median) exposures. The results showed that occupant density (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.05; aOR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.02–1.06; aOR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.02–1.06), leaking roofs (aOR = 2.51, 95%CI = 1.52–4.27; aOR = 1.79, 95%CI = 1.13–2.88; aOR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.17–2.97) and visible dampness (aOR = 4.67, 95%CI = 2.21–10.34; aOR = 4.37, 95%CI = 2.22–8.81; aOR = 4.28, 95%CI = 2.17–8.59) were independently associated with higher levels of bacterial concentrations, richness and diversity respectively. Culturally relevant interventions targeted at these factors would be promising in managing microbial proliferation in residential environments.