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Pandkar J. T. Fan Dust Samples-A New Approach to Aero-phycological Sampling. Biosci Biotech Res Asia 2011;8(2)
Manuscript received on : 20 October 2011
Manuscript accepted on : 21 November 2011
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Fan Dust Samples-A New Approach to Aero-phycological Sampling

 

Jogita T. Pandkar

Department of Botany, Fergusson College, Pune India.

Corresponding Author E-mail:jogita_pandkar@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT: Aero-algal sampling, using household ceiling fan, as an air sampler, was attempted for the first time. For this, air-born dust (along with bio-particles) adhering to the ceiling fan blades, was collected. Several such samples were collected during a span of five months, from five wide apart locations at and around Nagpur, Maharashtra. These samples, after processing, were screened microscopically for the presence of aero-algae. Out of fifteen samples, thus collected, 24 algal genera were recorded. Algal forms observed, are in accordance to previous such reports (using other air-samples), indicating potential of this cheap and versatile air sampler.

KEYWORDS: Ceiling Fan; Air-Sampler; Aero-Algae; Nagpur

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Introduction

Origin of Aero-Biology probably dates back to 55 B.C when Lucretius, first observed the silvery dust particles dancing in a ray of sun-light. Since then, this important discipline of Biology and Environmental Science has progressed much. During this progress, various methods have been improvised and used for collection of air-born Bio-particules.

All such methods can be briefly summarized into four broad categories.

Gravity settling of air-born particles, either on a clean glass slide for direct observation, or on some nutrient medium, for culturing.

Impaction of air-born particles on an adhesive surface, either by moving collection surface against wind or by exposing such surface to wind currents.

Trapping particles by passing air through some liquid medium.

Filtration- Collection of particles from air current (mostly created by suction) by passing air through some filter medium (such as paper, cellulose or glass fibers etc).

Some of the air-samplers used so far, includes, Glass plates and Wind tunnel Salisburry, (1866), Rotarod Air-Sampler, Herrington et.al. (1959), Wind wane type Sampler- “Aeroscope” Lakhanpal and Nair (1958) , Tilak Sampler, Tilak and Kulkarni (1970), Verticle Cylinder ,Parshwanath and Ramalingam  (1979), Anderson Sampler, Cyclone Type Sampler, Burkard Spore Trap, Reuter Centrifugal Sampler, Casella Split Sampler, FAO Split Sampler and Sartorium Filter Sampler , Stationary and Mobile agarised plate and High volume Air Sampler- HVAS-9000C. Some of the more advanced, motorized and electronically equipped samplers are Active Count Sampler, Air-borne Particle Counters, Spin- air Sampler, Sartorium Air-port MDTS, Sampling by electrostatic charging of air-borne particles, High Volume air Sampler and Personal samplers.

Some of the material used as samples, include Sea-Dust Ehrenberg (1852), Rain Water, Karnik (1962), House Dust- Bernstain and Safferman, (1970), Building Walls and other sub aerial surface scrapings, Herrold Schlishting,(1975), Dust stormes , Folger et.al. (1967), Snow and Rain , Kawai (1984),Tree Leaves , Pal and Santra (1986), Foot Wear Dust, Food Dust, Leaf Dust, Bed Dust, Nasal Secretion and Spider Webs and Earthworm Castings ,Craigh et.al. (2002).

Material and Method

In spite of various types of samplers, in numerated above, there is always a need for a cheap, affordable, versatile sampler, at least for the purpose of preliminary qualitative observations.

Every household, commercial or institutional building has one or more ceiling fans.

Blades of these fans, while revolving, collect a thick coat of air-borne dust, especially on the edges of the fan blades. Thus a ceiling fan like a rotarod sampler collects by impaction, air-born particles on its blades. In this method instead of an adhesive coated strip, air particles collects directly on fan blade, due to electrostatic charge developed on the blade edges (due to friction with air). This initial dust layers, thus collected, absorbs moisture from air, which further enhances their ability of collecting more air particles. This process, finally results, in a thick sticky layer of fan dust. Further, these fans, mostly being out of normal human reach, collects dust, purely of aerial origin and are less prone to contamination. Considering all this, a preliminary study was conducted to find out possibility of using fans, as air samplers.

Before collecting samples, these fans were washed well with soap solution and finally with alcohol, to avoid all possible residue- contaminants. Fans were then allowed normal use for a period varying from 10 to 30 days. This being only a qualitative study, factors like fan blade size, fan speed, actual duration of use etc. were not taken into consideration. Each sample was collected in a sterilized test tube with the help of clean drawing brush.

Each sample, thus collected, was macerated with dilute Hydrochloric Acid (reaction carried out till all effervesces died out) to dissolve calcium and magnesium carbonates of dust. Remaining acid was washed well with sterilized distilled water, using a centrifuge, (to prevent bio-particles, flowing out). Remaining material, thus collected was mounted on a clean glass slide with glycerin, for further microscopic examination.

Samples were collected during a span of five months, i.e. January (late winter) to May (summer). They were collected from five varied localities at and around Nagpur. All samples were collected after necessary permission of concerned authorities. These sample sites were as follows-

Student’s canteen (semi intra mural sites) attached to a school (Baba-Nanak High School and Junior College) at Gangabai Ghat, a thickly populated commercial locality of Nagpur.

Bed-room (an intra-mural site) of a residential house at Bajaj Nagar, a residential locality of Nagpur.

Living room (intra-mural site) of a residential house at Pratap Nagar, a residential locality near city out-skirts.

Chemistry laboratory (an intra-mural site) of a college (S.K.Porwal Junior and Senior college for Science) at Kamptee, a small town about 30 Km. South-West of Nagpur and a semi-rural locality.

A school office (Bhalerao High School) at Saoner, a small agricultural village, 40Km. North-East of Nagpur, a rural locality.

Total 15 517 422 162 260 29 65 1
Saoner Mar 64 60 4 56 1 3 X
Total 3 40 39 21 18 X 1 X
Kamptee Feb 9 9 4 5 X X X
Jan 20 20 16 4 X X X
Jan 11 10 1 9 X 1 X
Total 2 73 64 25 39 3 6 X
Pratap Nagar Mar 14 10 1 9 1 3 X
Feb 59 54 24 30 2 3 X
Total 4 146 118 37 81 25 3 X
Bajaj Nagar May 27 26 1 25 1 X X
April 76 52 14 38 23 1 X
Mar 26 23 11 12 1 2 X
Feb 17 17 11 6 X X X
Total 5 194 141 75 66 X 52 1
School Canteen May 26 21 19 2 X 5 X
April 26 22 22 X X 4 X
Mar 62 60 9 51 X 2 X
Feb 44 17 14 3 X 26 1
Jan 36 21 11 10 X 15 X
Particulars Sampling period Algal Forms Cyanophyta Coccoid Cyanophyta Filamentous Cyanophyta Chlorophyta Bacillariophyta Euglenophyta

Table 2-List of genera and species recorded

Genera                         Species   Genera                         Species
CYANOPHYTA    –,,–                     ambiguum
Calothrix                          marchice    –,,–                   mucosum
Chroococcus                minor Plectonema           dangeardii
    –,,–                      minutus Scytonema              tolypothricoides
   –,,–                      indicus Spirulina               laxissima
   –,,–                         montanus CHLOROPHYTA
Gloeocapsa                 rupestris Cosmarium           sp.
   –,,–                           magma Pandorina            sp.
Gloeotheca                   samoensis BACILLARIOPHYTA
Lyngbya                        hieronymusii Amphipora            sp.
Merismopedia              punctata Asterionella         sp.
Microcoleus              acutissimus Cymbella               sp.
Microcystis                  stagnalis Navicula             sp.
Oscillatoria                 subbrevis Nitzschia        sp.
   –,,–                        annae Pinnularia          sp.
Phormidium                angustissimum Rhizosolenia     sp.
   –,,–                        retzii Synedra              sp.
   –,,–                        jadinianum EUGLENOPHYTA
   –,,–                        anomala Euglena                 sp.

Results and Discussion

Out of fifteen samples, 517 algal fragments were recorded (Table 1). It is interesting to note that 2nd sample at Kamptee locality, although collected only after 10 days, recorded enough number of algal particules, indicating towards, and the efficiency of this method.

As usual, Cyanophycean forms were predominant, followed by Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta and Euglenophyta. A total of about 34 algal species, distributed over 24 genera were identified, indicating diversity of algal forms (Table-2).

Various Cyanophycean genera recorded were Phormidium, Oscillatoria, Chroococcus, Plectonema, Microcystis, Gloeotheca, Microcoleus, Spirulina, Gloeocapsa, Lyngbya, Scytonema, Merismopedia and Calothrix. Chlorophycean forms were Pandorina and Cosmarium. Bacillariophycean forms include Amphipora, Cymbella, Navicula, Nitzchia, Synedra, Pinnularia, Asterionella and Rhizosolenia. Euglenophycea was represented by Euglena only (Table-2).

These results were found to be consistent with previous such findings. Several algal forms observed here were also reported in many such findings from Nagpur, Kamat and Harenkhedkar (1976), and also from other parts of India, Santra S.C (1987).

More algal forms were recorded from rural samples than that of urban ones, similar to previous such reports, Sharma et.al; (2006).

From the above observations and discussion, it is evident that ceiling fans can be used as cheap versatile air-samplers, especially for qualitative investigation.

Acknowledgements

Author is thankful to Dr.M.Z.Patel, Shri. S.V.Khadake, Mr.Sahu, Dr. M.N.Ghoshal of Kamptee and Mr.Khedkar, of Saoner, for their help.

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