The Effects of Ventilation, Humidity, and Temperature on Bacterial Growth and Bacterial Genera Distribution

Yujia Qiu, Yan Zhou (), Yanfen Chang, Xinyue Liang, Hui Zhang, Xiaorui Lin, Ke Qing, Xiaojie Zhou and Ziqiang Luo ()
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Yujia Qiu: Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
Yan Zhou: Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
Yanfen Chang: Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
Xinyue Liang: Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
Hui Zhang: Center for the Built Environment, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 2506, USA
Xiaorui Lin: China Vanke Co., Ltd., Changsha 410000, China
Ke Qing: China Vanke Co., Ltd., Changsha 410000, China
Xiaojie Zhou: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
Ziqiang Luo: Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Bacteria are readily nourished in airtight environments with high humidity, such as storage cabinets, clothing closets, and corners, where ventilation is normally low and humidity is high. Objectives: We characterized the role of humidity and ventilation in bacterial growth and genus distribution at different temperatures (26 °C and 34 °C). Methods: Fresh pork, which was used as the substrate for bacterial culture, was placed in storage cabinets. Bacterial growth and genera distribution on the surface of pork placed in a storage cabinet under different temperatures (26 °C and 34 °C); relative humidity levels (RH: 50%, 70%, 90%); and ventilation conditions (no ventilation and low, medium, and high levels of ventilation) were assessed by rDNA sequencing. Results: Increased ventilation and reduced humidity significantly decreased bacterial growth at 26 °C and 34 °C. The contribution of increased ventilation to the reduction in bacterial growth exceeded that of decreased humidity. Ventilation had the greatest effect on reducing bacterial growth compared to the unventilated conditions at 70% RH. At 34 °C, medium and high levels of ventilation were required to reduce bacterial growth. High temperatures greatly increased bacterial growth, but ventilation could reduce the degree of this increase.

Keywords: humidity; temperature; ventilation; air velocity; bacteria; DNA sequencing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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