Influence of the 60 Hz Magnetic Field on the Airborne Microbial Distribution of Indoor Environments

Authors

  • Matilde Anaya Food Industry Business Group (GEIA), Avenida del Puerto s/n entre Hacendado y Atarés, Havana, Cuba.
  • Sofia F. Borrego Preventive Conservation Laboratory, National Archive of the Republic of Cuba (ARNAC). Compostela 906 esq San Isidro, Havana, Cuba.
  • Miguel Castro Electric Researches and Tests Center, Faculty of Electric Engineering, Polytechnic University “José A. Echeverría” (CUJAE), Havana, Cuba.
  • Oderlaise Valdés Preventive Conservation Laboratory, National Archive of the Republic of Cuba (ARNAC). Compostela 906 esq San Isidro, Havana, Cuba.
  • Alian Molina Preventive Conservation Laboratory, National Archive of the Republic of Cuba (ARNAC). Compostela 906 esq San Isidro, Havana, Cuba.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jasr.v3i3.2215

Abstract

The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the magnetic field generated by the household appliances on the airborne microbial surrounding these equipment located on indoor environments with particular interest in the environmental fungi. A simultaneous environmental study was carried out in locals of three different geographical places of Havana, Cuba, which have televisions, computers and an electric generator. The air samples were made by a sedimentation method using Malt Extract Agar. The concentration of total aerobic mesophilic as well as fungi and yeasts were determined in rainy and little rainy seasons by applying as factors: exposure time of dishes (5 to 60 min) and distance to the wall (0 and 1 m) at a height of 1 m above the floor. The predominant fungal genera were Cladosporium, Penicillium and Aspergillus. In the dishes that were placed at 0 and 0.5 m from the emitting sources were observed that some bacteria colonies formed inhibition halos, a great diversity of filamentous fungi and an increase in the mycelium pigmentation as well as the pigments excretion. In the rainy season, the highest amounts of fungi were obtained in all samples. In the little rain season the count of the Gram-negative bacilli increased three times the Gram-positive cocci.

Keywords:

Non-ionizing radiation; Appliances; Airborne mycobiota; Indoor environment; Index of microbial air; Magnetic field

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How to Cite

Anaya, M., Borrego, S. F., Castro, M., Valdés, O., & Molina, A. (2020). Influence of the 60 Hz Magnetic Field on the Airborne Microbial Distribution of Indoor Environments. Journal of Atmospheric Science Research, 3(3), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.30564/jasr.v3i3.2215

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