Evaluation of Microbial Air Quality in a Forest Recreation Park

Bioaerosols significantly influence indoor and outdoor air quality and may cause numerous allergies and diseases. Our study presents results of an evaluation of air quality in the forest recreation park in Myslecinek. In the forest recreation park in Myslecinek, microbiological air tests were conducted with the use of two methods of air sampling, namely the sedimentation method and the impaction method. The analysis indicate that mould fungi were the most abundant, constituting nearly 66% of all the microbial forms according to the sedimentation method, or 75% according to the impaction method. Heterotrophic bacteria were less numerous, making up to 32% of all microorganisms (the sedimentation method) or 24% (the impaction method). Actinomycetes and mannitol-positive staphylococci occurred in minimal concentrations. The highest count of microorganisms was recorded at Site V located on the verge of the forest near the tram terminus in Rekreacyjna Street, though staphylococci were the most abundant at Site I in the Polish Fauna Zoo Garden. The air was of high quality (containing the smallest number of microorganisms) at Site III located near Lake