Investigation into microbial contamination in microapartments in a coastal city. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fang, Zhaosong; Wen, Tao; Luo, Hui; Zheng, Zhimin; Ding, Lixing; Yue, Sa; Wang, Qing; Feng, Xiwen
• Is Part Of: Sustainable cities and society. Volume 91(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Indoor air quality -- Microbial pollution -- Microorganisms -- Microapartment -- Indoor pollutants; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable buildings -- Periodicals; Urban ecology (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2023.104397
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6707

Abstract

Highlights: Indoor thermal environment and air quality impact human health and comfort. Evaluation was carried out via a questionnaire answered by apartment residents. Indoor mold breeding was serious and the air quality was poor. Air conditioning was the main source of indoor microbial pollution. Indoor area with high humidity was the main site of microbial aggregation. Abstract: Indoor air quality (IAQ) has a significant impact on human health and comfort. The impact of indoor microorganisms on IAQ has recently been taken into account. However, microbial contamination of microapartments in developed coastal cities, where microorganisms tend to breed, has rarely been investigated. Therefore, this study evaluated the IAQ of two microapartments in Shenzhen in spring, summer, and winter and conducted a questionnaire-based survey and pollution measurement on the residents of the microapartments to analyze the differences in their subjective evaluation. During the period of study, 863 answers to questionnaires were collected, including 403 in spring, 238 in winter, and 222 in summer. The IAQ of microapartments was evaluated and analyzed. It was found that indoor mold breeding was serious, and the air quality was poor. Through gene sequencing analysis, it was concluded that air conditioning was the main source of indoor microbial pollution, and the indoor area with high humidity was the main site of microbial aggregation. In addition, the types of indoor microorganisms were also correlated with seasons. The results of this study can promote the betterment of air quality to improve the comfort of residents.