Screening for Microbial Airborne Spores from Unauthorized Urinary Spots on Road Sides in Igwuruta, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Indiscriminate urination at unauthorized roadside spots creates unhygienic microhabitats with offensive odor and potential airborne microbial hazards. This study investigated the air microbiome of such sites in Igwuruta, Rivers State, Nigeria, by exposing sterile Petri dishes containing nutrient agar, anaerobic blood agar, and Sabouraud dextrose agar at thirty sampling points for 10-60 seconds during the dry season; the plates were suspended three meters above ground to approximate human breathing height. Microbial loads ranged from 2-18 SFU/s for aerobic bacteria, 0-1 SFU/s for facultative anaerobes, and 0-2 SFU/s for fungi, with statistical analysis showing significant differences (R²=0.5914, 0.0171 and 0.2286 for aerobic, facultative anaerobic bacteria and fungi, respectively). Twentyeight isolates were recovered, and three genera were identified: Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., and Penicillium sp. The predominance of aerobic sporeforming bacteria, particularly Bacillus sp., and the opportunistic presence of Pseudomonas sp. highlight their adaptive survival in airborne environments, while Penicillium sp. was the sole fungal genus detected. Importantly, 59% of aerobic spores inhaled by passersby represent a likely health threat, underscoring the need for preventive measures such as nose masks or handkerchiefs and improved sanitation practices to mitigate environmental and public health risks.