Abstract

---

This study assessed the level of microbial contamination of air around three municipal dumpsites in Igando and determined the antibiogram of the bacterial isolates. Total aerobic bacteria count (TABC) and total enterobacterial count (TEC) of air around the dumpsites nearby amusement park and gas station were measured using the “sedimentation method. The microbial isolates were identified using phenotypic and biochemical characteristics and their antibiotic sensitivity was determined using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion. Total aerobic bacteria count (TABC) at the three dumpsites ranged between 1.9 x 107 and 2.6 x107 cfu/m3 while the amusement park and gas station recorded 2.2 x 107 and 2.4 x 107 cfu/m3 respectively. The TECs of air at the dumpsites varied between 6.6 x 106 and 7.9 x 106 cfu/m3, while the amusement park and gas station recorded 6.4 x 106 and 2.9 x 106 cfu/m3 respectively. Staphylococcus sp. had the highest percentage occurrence of 47 followed by Bacillus 17. Among fungi, Rhizopus sp. had the highest percentage occurrence 26.67 followed by Aspergillus 26.47. For the Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus spp. recorded the highest percentage resistance (HPR) of 40 against tetracycline. Twenty percent of the Gram positive bacterial isolates were resistant to tetracycline and erythromycin respectively. Among the Gram negative bacterial isolates, 33.33% were resistant to cefuroxime and 22.22% were resistant to gentamicin and ofloxacin respectively. The high level of microbial contamination of the air at and around the dumpsites constitute potential risk to health

Keywords: Air quality, Antibiogram, Dumpsites, Igando, Microbial quality