Comparative studies on the relationship between human activities and microbial populations in two working environments

Abstract

The Microflora of Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant was compared with that of Post Harvest Research Laboratory. The microbial loads in the air and on the floors were enumerated on Plate Count Agar (PtlA), Malt Extract Agar (MEA) and Dicloran Rosebengal Chloramphenicol Agar (DRBC). The highest counts were recorded at Bamaf Industries during work 1.03X 103 Cfu/l00 cm²" and 164.7 cfu/min. whilst the least count was recorded at the post harvest research laboratory after work Scfu/min and 3.0x 10² cfu/l00cm2. Organisms isolated were mainly Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Kurthia, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Neurospora and Cladosporium species, etc. Percentage occurrence of organism at Bamaf Industries were generally higher than the Postharvest Laboratory, both during work and after work. From the two sites, human activities were found to greatly affect the microbial populations in the working environments studied. Settle plate and swab rinse methods were fully utilized in the enumeration of the entire organism isolated. However, the design of the food processing plant has greatly contributed to the high microbial populations recorded at Barnaf Industries. Low count of microbial population at the post harvest laboratory was the result of a proper architectural design of the laboratory which had an urge over Bamaf Industries