IJSRP, Volume 2, Issue 8, August 2012 Edition [ISSN 2250-3153]
Abu- Saeed Muhammad Buhari, Abu-Saeed Kamaldeen, Hassan Ummu K. M.
Abstract:
Porous surfaces such as carpets have been examined as a possible source for the introduction of indoor particle levels. Indoor airborne mold and/or mycotoxin exposure causes many multi-system adverse human health effects. This study is aimed at isolating and identifying fungal flora in the dust samples of various indoor environments in Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria. Samples were obtained from six (6) carpeted old buildings, two (2) carpeted new buildings, two (2) uncarpeted old building and two (2) uncarpeted new buildings. Samples were inoculated onto Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and identified. Ten (10) fungi species from 12 dust samples involving 12 indoor environments were isolated and identified. Total mean microbial concentration was 1.65x103 cfu /g, average concentration 1.37x 102 cfu/g and standard deviation of 6.73 x 101 cfu/g. The isolates include Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Apsergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus ustus, Mucor racemosus, Mucor hiemalis, Rhizopus stolonifer, Scopulariopsis spp., Trichoderma spp., Wallemia Spp. A flavus, (100%) and A. Niger (91.7%) had the highest frequency of occurrence while A. ustus (8.3%) had the lowest frequency of occurrence. Conclusively, fungi are present in dust samples including infectious and toxigenic species. Therefore, attention should be given to our indoor air quality.