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The microbiological
effects of hospital wastes on the environment
Oyeleke, S. B.* and Istifanus, N.
Department
of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
droyeleke@yahoo.com
Accepted
30 January, 2009 |
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The effect of twenty four (24) hospital wastes samples taken
from different hospitals waste dumpsites on its surrounding
soil was examined. The counts of microorganisms in hospital
dumpsite soil include the following; aerobic heterotrophic
counts from 4.2 x 105 to 1.6 x 1010,
anaerobic heterotrophic counts from 1.0 x 105 to
1.6 x 109 while fungi counts from 0 to 6.9 x 106.
The counts in soil adjacent to dumpsites include the
following; aerobic heterotrophic counts from 1.0 x 105
to 4.0 x 109, anaerobic heterotrophic counts from
1.0 x 105 to 5.0 x 108,
while fungi counts is between 0 to 1.0 x 106.
Bacteria isolated at the soil dumpsite and soil adjacent to
dumpsites include, respectively, Bacillus sp. (42.86
and 45%), Micrococcus roseus (14.29 and 10%),
Staphylococcus epidermidis (9.52 and 10%),
Corynebacterium equi (1.59 and 5%), Bacillus
subtilis (4.76 and 5%), B. licheniformis
(9.52 and 10%), and Actinomyces istraelii
(3.17 and 5%). Fungi isolated include Rhizopus nigricans
(27.59 and 18.52%), Aspergillus flavus (13.79 and
3.70%), Penicillium rubrum (6.86 and 3.70%),
Trichothecium roseum (0 and 3.70%), Penicillium
viricadum (6.90 and 0%) Aspergillus niger (34.48
and 44.44%), Aspergillus nidulans (0 and
11.11%), Aspergillus visicolor (3.45 and 3.45%),
Aspergillus parasiticus (0 and 7.41%), and
Microsporum canis (6.9 and 0%). The dumpsites soil
recorded higher pH value than the adjacent soil. The
investigation revealed that the hospital waste dumpsites may
have adverse effects on its immediate environment.
Key
words:
Hospital wastes, aerobic counts, anaerobic heterotrophic
counts, soil dump site and soil adjacent. |
