Air Microbial Contamination at the HolyMosque, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Airborne microbial contamination was collected from the main directions of the holy mosque (Al-Haram mosque), Makkah city, by using the gravitational method.Bacteria, fungi and actinomycete concentrations ranged between 1470 - 21800 CFU/m3 ; 44 - 572 CFU/m3 , and 0.0 - 264 CFU/m3 , respectively at all directions. Bacterial concentrations significantly differed between directions, and Gram positive bacteria constituted ~ 90-100% of the total bacterial isolates. Gammaproteo bacteria were the common Gram negative bacteria, and Aspergillus was the predominant fungal genera. Mesophilic bacteria negatively related (P< 0.05) with relative humidity. Human activities had more effective influence on the microbial concentrations than the meteorological factors.

Air_Microbial_Contamination_at_the_Holy.pdf