Microbiological Destruction Of Constructional And Decoration Materials Of Buildings

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to isolate some of the possible species of microorganisms on different constructional and decoration materials of buildings. A total of 42 microbial isolates was isolated from constructional and decoration materials of building materials samples. 31 were bacterial strains and 11 fungal species. The details of these isolates comprising Bacillus species (3), Staphylococcus aureus (8), Escherichia coli (9), Proteus species (5), Pseudomonas species (6), Aspergillus Niger (3), Aspergillus flavus (4) and Mucor Alternaria (4). From the findings in this study, it was observed that Escherichia coli is the most frequently occurring isolate from decoration materials of buildings with the highest percentage occurrence of (21.1%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus sp (15.8%), then Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp, Aspergillus flavus, Mucor Altenaria (10.5%) and Aspergillus niger (5.3%), whereas it was observed that Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently occurring isolate from constructional materials of buildings with the highest percentage occurrence of (21.7%), followed by Pseudomonas sp (17.4%), then Proteus sp, Aspergillus flavus, Mucor Altenaria, Aspergillus niger (8.7%) and Bacillus sp (4.3%). The high occurrence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is a major component of the normal flora of the constructional and decoration materials of buildings, which probably explains its high ability to deteriorate constructional and decoration materials. The total viable microbial counts of constructional and decoration materials of building samples ranges from 1.2x106 cfu/g to 3.7 x106 cfu/g. All the deteriorations were associated with one or more different species of fungi. Also most of the deteriorations caused by bacteria were found to be by more than one type of bacteria. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in mean count of the locally made cream samples at P< 0.05.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ﾿   ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgement ﾿ iv

Table of Contents ﾿ v

List of Tables ﾿ vii

Abstract ﾿ viii

1.0 ﾿ CHAPTER ONE

1.1 ﾿ Introduction ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Causes of Microbial Contamination ﾿ 5

1.2.1 ﾿ Disasters ﾿ 5

1.2.2 ﾿ Poor Environmental Control ﾿ 6

1.2.3 ﾿ Normal Conditions ﾿ 8

1.3 ﾿ Aims and Objectives ﾿ 8

1.3.1 ﾿ Objectives ﾿ 9

2.0 ﾿ CHAPTER TWO

2.1 ﾿ Literature Review ﾿ 10

2.1 ﾿ Microorganisms Associated With Deteriorated De-Surface Painted ﾿

﾿ Concrete Buildings ﾿ 11

2.2 ﾿ Microbial Deterioration of Constructional Materials ﾿ 12

2.3 ﾿ Moulds In Buildings ﾿ 13

2.4 ﾿ Biodeterioration of Historic Buildings ﾿ 14

2.5 ﾿ Moisture and Limiting Factor Water Activity ﾿ 17

2.6 ﾿ Damage Due To Microorganisms ﾿ 17

2.7 ﾿ Characterization of New Bacterial Species ﾿ 18

3.0 ﾿ CHAPTER THREE

3.1 ﾿ Materials and Method ﾿ 20

3.2 ﾿ Study Area ﾿ 20

3.3 ﾿ Collection of Samples ﾿ 20

3.4 ﾿ Sterilization of Materials ﾿ 21

3.5 ﾿ Preparation of Culture Media ﾿ 21

3.6 ﾿ Preparation of Dilution Factor/Swab method ﾿ 21

3.7 ﾿ Inoculation and Isolation ﾿ 21

3.8 ﾿ Purification of Isolates ﾿ 22

3.9 ﾿ Identification of Bacterial Isolates ﾿ 22

3.9.1 ﾿ Gram Staining ﾿ 22

3.9.2 ﾿ Biochemical Test ﾿ 23

3.9.2.1 ﾿ Indole Test ﾿ 23

3.9.2.2 ﾿ Methyl Red (MR) ﾿ 23

3.9.2.3 ﾿ Voges Proskauer (VP) ﾿ 23

3.9.2.4 ﾿ Hydrogen Sulphide Test (H2S) ﾿ 23

3.9.2.5 ﾿ Citrate Test ﾿ 24

3.9.2.6 ﾿ Urease Test ﾿ 24

3.9.2.7 ﾿ Catalase Test ﾿ 24

3.9.2.8 ﾿ Coagulase Test ﾿ 24

3.9.2.9 ﾿ Sugar Fermentation Test ﾿ 25

3.9.2.10Starch Test ﾿ 25

3.10 ﾿ Identification of Fungal Isolates ﾿ 25

3.11 ﾿ Statistical Analysis ﾿ 26

4.0 ﾿ CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 ﾿ Results ﾿ 27

5.0 ﾿ CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 ﾿ Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation ﾿ 35

5.1.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 37

5.1.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 37

﾿ References ﾿ 38