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Microbes
& Indoor Air Quality
Student enrolled in Biology courses are participating in this research project. The purpose of this assignment is to help
you. Sick Building Syndrome | Lab Protocol | References | Data  |
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Sick building syndrome (SBS) is characterized by headache, dizziness, lethargy, tight chest, and fatigue. SBS can be caused by a variety of chemicals and particulates. SBS came to the forefront in the 1980s when Legionella growing in air conditioner reservoirs caused infections in people in closed buildings. Particulates <6 µm in the air can reach the lungs and 1-2 µm particles can be retained in alveoli. Biological particles in the air range from 0.5 to 30 µm. As many as 90% of the microbes are gram-positive bacteria because their cell walls and carotenoid pigments protect them from ultraviolet damage. Airborne microorganisms can come from soil, animals, and indoor sources. A variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi and algae have been found growing on indoor environmental surfaces such as air filters, duct tape, carpets, behind wall paper, and wet walls. |
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Before beginning, talk with the instructor to develop a work plan. 1. Title page (1) 2. Six (no more and no less) content pages. The text should consist of a student-worded analyses of your research during long hours in a library, in the lab, and in the field. Do not quote authors: Put the information in your own words and cite your reference. a. Bimonthly data. (15)
b. Graph your counts of living organisms
against time or location. (5)
c. Explain the relationship between the
factors that you graphed. (10)
d. Compare your data to Skyline historical
data and acceptable standards. (10) e. Discuss the (beneficial, neutral, negative) significance of your data. (5) 3. Read
about the organisms you identified and answer the following questions: a. Why did you use SDA and NA; what is the purpose of each medium? (5) b. How are fungi classified to kingdom,
phyla, and classes? (5) c. Identify two fungi. Provide the information
to complete the following table. How do they differ from the fungus
shown in the
figure? What do they metabolize for their carbon and energy
source(s)? What is their normal habitat? (10)
d.
What are the gram reactions of the bacteria you cultured?
Does one cell-wall type predominate? Discuss the significance
of this. (10) 4. Literature cited page*.Include 5 references in correct format. (10) You must use at least 3 journal articles; all references may not be books and websites. References must be cited somewhere in the content. Do not include references prior to 1980. 5. Three figures on three separate pages.
6. General form: (5)
Type your answers. Refer to the Style Sheet for directions. Print this page in pdf
Davis, P. "Molds, toxic molds, and indoor air quality. CRB Note. Vol. 8, No. 1, Heidelberg, J.F. et al. "Effect of aerosolization on culturability and viability of gram-negative bacteria." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 63:3585-3588, Sept. 1997. (Has a good reference list.) Kreiss, K. "The sick building syndrome in office buildings-a breath of fresh air. New England Journal of Medicine 328:877-878, May 25, 1993. McNeel, S. and R. A. Kreutzer. "Fungi & Infoor Air Quality." Health & Environment Digest 10 (2):9-12, May/June 1996. (California Department of Health Services) Menzies, R. et al. "The effects of varying levels of outdoor-air supply on the symptoms of sick building syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine 328:821-827, May 25, 1993. Stetzenbach, L. D. (ed.). "Aerobiology." In Manual of Environmental Microbiology. (C. J. Hurst, ed.), pp. 617-702, Washington, D.C.: American Society for Microbiology, 1997. About the Air Sampler: |
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BIOL
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