The aim of this research was to evaluate the microbiological indoor air contamination level in chosen facilities of the primary health-care for adults and children. The total numbers of mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci, coli-group bacteria and moulds in both surgery rooms and patients’ waiting rooms were determined. Air samples were collected with a MAS 100 impactor and the concentration of microorganisms was estimated by a culture method. The microbiological air contamination level was diverse: the number of mesophilic bacteria ranged from 320 to 560 CFU/m3, number of staphylococci - 10-305 CFU/m3, coli group bacteria - 0-15 CFU/m3 and moulds - 15-35 CFU/m3. The bacteriological contamination level of the air in examined community health centers was higher than described in the literature for hospitals and exceeded the acceptable values proposed for the surgery objects.

The study was aimed at evaluating microbial contamination on the premises of the sewage treatment plant by determining the concentrations of selected groups of airborne microorganisms. Another objective was to determine the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolated strains of staphylococci. The research was conducted in a seasonal cycle, by the impaction method using Merck MAS-100 air sampler. Samples were collected at six sites, each representing a different stage of sewage treatment. The susceptibility of isolated staphylococci was assessed with the disc-diffusion method, following the recommendations of the EUCAST. The results indicate that the microbial population in the air of the investigated area was dominated by mold fungi, whose highest average concentration was recorded at site IV located near the final clarifier (7672 CFU•m-3). Heterotrophic bacteria and mannitol-positive staphylococci were the most numerous at locations where sewage undergoes primary treatment. In each subseuqent stage the number of microorganisms emitted into the air from the sewage was lower. Antibiograms show that more than 50% of Staphylococcus spp. exhibited resistance to penicillin and 20% to rifampicin. In addition, 90% of the analyzed strains were sensitive to other antibiotics. The fungal community included the following genera: Cladosporium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, and Acremonium.The highest air contamination with all studied groups of microorganisms was recorded at the locations where mechanical sewage treatment was performed. During the subsequent stages lower numbers of heterotrophic bacteria were emitted into the air. The air in the investigated sewage treatment plant did not contain multidrug-resistant staphylococci.

The emission of dust from power and industrial sources introduces a lot of contaminants into the air, including compounds of trace clements contained in fuels and raw materials. They arc contained in rcspirablc dust particles, creating hazard to human health. The results of investigations into the occurrence of selected trace clements in PM1, PM25 and PM10 fractions of dust emitted from coal-fired boilers equipped with air protection devices such as cyclone, clectrofiltcr, wet and dry-scrubbing FGD plant have been presented. Dust emitted from a coke battery (battery heating) and rotary kiln for cement manufacture was also subjected to research. The research material was taken by means of a cascade impactor, enabling a fraction or different grain size dust to be separated from a stream of dust collected in an elcctrofiltcr. The ICP-AES method (of atomic emission spectrometry (AES) with plasma excitation) was used to determine the trace clements alter prior mineralization of samples by microwave method. The results of measurements and analyses were presented by determining the ranges of trace elements occurrence in flue dust and emission factors in PM,s It was found out that big utility boilers and rotary kilns in the cement industry which are equipped with air protection devices meeting BAT requirements do not contaminate the air with dust and dust-related trace elements in the amounts that could create hazard. Excessive emission of dust, including a resp i rabie fraction is still observed in the case of municipal heating plants equipped solely with mechanical dust separators (cyclones). Coke battery heating docs not pose danger due to small range of influence.

The emission of dust from coal fired furnaces introduces a lot of contamination into the environment, including dangerous metal compounds, which occur as trace elements in hard and brown coal. After the coal is burnt, they are contained in the grains of respirable dust, which creates health hazard. The results of investigations into the distribution of several trace elements in granular composition of ash emitted from CFB boilers used in coal-fired heat and power station are presented. The research material was taken by means of a cascade impactor, enabling a different granulometrie fraction to be separated from a stream of dust that penetrated the electrofilter. The CP-AES method (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) was used to determine trace elements after prior mineralization of samples by microwave method. The Authors presented the results of measurements and analyses, determining the ranges of trace elements' occurrence in dust, characterizing the distribution in PM,, PM25 and PM10 granulometrie fractions and determining the emission factors.