Detection of Airborne Bacteria and Mildew in the Shanghai Metro System
This study aimed to detect and to identify the main
strains of airborne microorganisms present in the Shanghai Metro
system. Samples were collected using agar plates exposed to the air
and microorganisms were identified using catalase, plasma coagulase
and hymolytic analysis. The results show that the concentration of
mildew present within a newly opened metro line was significantly
higher than for other lines. Differences among underground and
elevated stations can be attributed to differences in passenger flow and
the environment surrounding the stations. Additionally, the
investigation indicated that bacteria reached maximum levels at
different times on weekdays and weekends. The bacteria in the Metro
stations were identified as primarily Gram positive, consisting mainly
of coagulase-negative staphylococcus strains (CNS).
[1] M. Dybwad, P. E. Granum, P. Bruheim, and J. M. Blatnya,
"Characterization of airborne bacteria at an underground subway,"
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 78, no. 6, pp. 1917-1929,
2012.
[2] A. Birenzvigea, J. Eversoleb, M. Seaverb, S. Francesconic, E. Valdesa,
and H. Kulagad, "Aerosol characteristics in a subway environment,"
Aerosol Science and Technology, vol. 37, pp. 210-220, 2003.
[3] A. H. A. Awad, "Environmental study in subway metro stations in Cairo,
Egypt," Journal of Occupational Health, vol. 44, pp. 112-118, 2002.
[4] T. Kawasaki, T. Kyotani, T. Ushiogi, Y. Izumi, H. Lee, and T. Hayakawa,
"Distribution and identification of airborne fungi in railway stations in
Tokyo, Japan," Journal of Occupational Health, vol. 52, pp. 186-193,
2010.
[5] K. Seino, T. Takano, K. Nakamura, and M. Watanabe, "An evidential
example of airborne bacteria in a crowded, underground public concourse
in Tokyo," Atmospheric Environment, vol. 39, pp. 337-341, 2005.
[6] L. Szam, I. Nikodemusz, L. Csatai, I. Vedres, and M. Dakay, "Airborne
microflora found in some stations of the metro in the Hungarian capital of
Budapest," Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg B, vol. 170, pp. 199-208,
1980.
[7] L. Szam, I. Vedres, L. Csatai, and I. Nikodemusz, "Further
microbiological studies of the air in a newly built (under the pavement)
section of the underground railway in Budapest," Zentralbl Bakteriol
Mikrobiol Hyg B, vol. 177, pp. 312-318, 1983.
[8] E. Bogomolova and I. Kirtsideli, "Airborne fungi in four stations of the St.
Petersburg underground railway system," International Biodeterioration
and Biodegradation, vol. 63, pp. 156-160, 2009.
[9] Xinmin Net: The daily boarding in Shanghai metro is closing to 7 million.
(2012, March). [Online]. Available:
http://news.xinmin.cn/domestic/gnkb/2012/03/30/14245511.html
[10] Zhang Z´╝ÜThe consultation of metro air, Focus on Every Month, 2005,
12:46-48
[11] Ministry of Health Law and Oversight Division. Disinfection technical
specifications [S]. Beijing: Ministry of Health, pp. 194-196, 2002.
[12] A. H. Lin, B. Y. Ye, F. F. Zeng, and R. Zhang, "Investigation of biological
pollution in Shenzhen metro before opening," Practical Preventive
Medicine, vol. 1, pp. 134-136, 2006.
[13] Z. C. Zhang, S. Y. Yu, Y. L. Wang, X. Y. Wang, J. S. Feng, and B. Y. Ye,
"Ambient air quality of subway trains in Shenzhen," Chinese Journal of
Public Health Engineering, vol. 6, pp. 343-344, 2007.
[14] S. H. Hwang, C. S. Yoon, K. N. Ryu, S. Y. Paik, and J. H. Cho,
"Assessment of airborne environmental bacteria and related factors in 25
underground railway stations in Seoul, Korea," Atmospheric
Environment, vol. 44, pp. 1658-1662, 2010.
[15] S. B. Gilleberg, J. L. Faull, and K. A. Graeme-Cook, "A preliminary
survey of aerial biocontaminants at six London underground stations,"
International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, vol. 41, pp. 149-152,
1998.
[16] F. Koksal, H. Yasar, and M. Samasti, "Antibiotic resistance patterns of
coagulase-negative staphylococcus strains isolated from blood cultures of
septicemic patients in Turkey," Microbiological Research, vol. 164, pp.
404-410, 2009.
[1] M. Dybwad, P. E. Granum, P. Bruheim, and J. M. Blatnya,
"Characterization of airborne bacteria at an underground subway,"
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 78, no. 6, pp. 1917-1929,
2012.
[2] A. Birenzvigea, J. Eversoleb, M. Seaverb, S. Francesconic, E. Valdesa,
and H. Kulagad, "Aerosol characteristics in a subway environment,"
Aerosol Science and Technology, vol. 37, pp. 210-220, 2003.
[3] A. H. A. Awad, "Environmental study in subway metro stations in Cairo,
Egypt," Journal of Occupational Health, vol. 44, pp. 112-118, 2002.
[4] T. Kawasaki, T. Kyotani, T. Ushiogi, Y. Izumi, H. Lee, and T. Hayakawa,
"Distribution and identification of airborne fungi in railway stations in
Tokyo, Japan," Journal of Occupational Health, vol. 52, pp. 186-193,
2010.
[5] K. Seino, T. Takano, K. Nakamura, and M. Watanabe, "An evidential
example of airborne bacteria in a crowded, underground public concourse
in Tokyo," Atmospheric Environment, vol. 39, pp. 337-341, 2005.
[6] L. Szam, I. Nikodemusz, L. Csatai, I. Vedres, and M. Dakay, "Airborne
microflora found in some stations of the metro in the Hungarian capital of
Budapest," Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg B, vol. 170, pp. 199-208,
1980.
[7] L. Szam, I. Vedres, L. Csatai, and I. Nikodemusz, "Further
microbiological studies of the air in a newly built (under the pavement)
section of the underground railway in Budapest," Zentralbl Bakteriol
Mikrobiol Hyg B, vol. 177, pp. 312-318, 1983.
[8] E. Bogomolova and I. Kirtsideli, "Airborne fungi in four stations of the St.
Petersburg underground railway system," International Biodeterioration
and Biodegradation, vol. 63, pp. 156-160, 2009.
[9] Xinmin Net: The daily boarding in Shanghai metro is closing to 7 million.
(2012, March). [Online]. Available:
http://news.xinmin.cn/domestic/gnkb/2012/03/30/14245511.html
[10] Zhang Z´╝ÜThe consultation of metro air, Focus on Every Month, 2005,
12:46-48
[11] Ministry of Health Law and Oversight Division. Disinfection technical
specifications [S]. Beijing: Ministry of Health, pp. 194-196, 2002.
[12] A. H. Lin, B. Y. Ye, F. F. Zeng, and R. Zhang, "Investigation of biological
pollution in Shenzhen metro before opening," Practical Preventive
Medicine, vol. 1, pp. 134-136, 2006.
[13] Z. C. Zhang, S. Y. Yu, Y. L. Wang, X. Y. Wang, J. S. Feng, and B. Y. Ye,
"Ambient air quality of subway trains in Shenzhen," Chinese Journal of
Public Health Engineering, vol. 6, pp. 343-344, 2007.
[14] S. H. Hwang, C. S. Yoon, K. N. Ryu, S. Y. Paik, and J. H. Cho,
"Assessment of airborne environmental bacteria and related factors in 25
underground railway stations in Seoul, Korea," Atmospheric
Environment, vol. 44, pp. 1658-1662, 2010.
[15] S. B. Gilleberg, J. L. Faull, and K. A. Graeme-Cook, "A preliminary
survey of aerial biocontaminants at six London underground stations,"
International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, vol. 41, pp. 149-152,
1998.
[16] F. Koksal, H. Yasar, and M. Samasti, "Antibiotic resistance patterns of
coagulase-negative staphylococcus strains isolated from blood cultures of
septicemic patients in Turkey," Microbiological Research, vol. 164, pp.
404-410, 2009.
@article{"International Journal of Medical, Medicine and Health Sciences:49677", author = "Feng Zhou and Yuyan Wang", title = "Detection of Airborne Bacteria and Mildew in the Shanghai Metro System", abstract = "This study aimed to detect and to identify the main
strains of airborne microorganisms present in the Shanghai Metro
system. Samples were collected using agar plates exposed to the air
and microorganisms were identified using catalase, plasma coagulase
and hymolytic analysis. The results show that the concentration of
mildew present within a newly opened metro line was significantly
higher than for other lines. Differences among underground and
elevated stations can be attributed to differences in passenger flow and
the environment surrounding the stations. Additionally, the
investigation indicated that bacteria reached maximum levels at
different times on weekdays and weekends. The bacteria in the Metro
stations were identified as primarily Gram positive, consisting mainly
of coagulase-negative staphylococcus strains (CNS).", keywords = "Bacteria, environment, Metro system, mildew,
passenger flow", volume = "6", number = "12", pages = "627-4", }
