STUDY OF MICROBIAL LOADS IN WATER AND AIR SAMPLES FROM OGUN STATE DUMPSITE

Abstract

In this study, the settled plate method was used to measure the microbial loads in air and water samples taken from the Shagamu dumpsite in Ogun State. The analysis procedure comprises exposing sterile potato dextrose agar (PDA) and nutritional agar (NA) and NA to the air for 0 to 30 minutes. Additionally sampled and transported to the lab for study was water from a nearby river. Colonies that could be seen were counted and noted in water samples and exposed air plates. The isolates underwent morphological and biochemical characterizations. Testing the isolated bacteria for antibiotic sensitivity was also done. The colony count after 30 minutes of plates exposure for nutrient agar (NA) and (PDA) potato dextrose agar ranged from 27 – 400 cfu and 73 – 1400 cfu respectively. The highest counts was observed at 30 minutes of exposure while the lowest was at 0 minutes. The colony count after 48 hours of incubations ranged from 150x103 - 45x105 and 300x103 - 130x105 for the first and second wastewater sampling respectively. Escherichia coli, S. aureus, Micrococcus sp., Pseudomonus spp., and Bacillus spp., were the predominant bacteria. Antibiotics sensitivity testing carried out on the isolated bacteria showed that 27% were resistant to the selected antibiotics diskIn conclusion, our study's observations of the landfill waste disposal and its close vicinity to neighborhoods suggest that there may be a serious environmental health risk that could have a serious impact on people's health and safety. To maintain public safety and to control waste management, the government must enact policies.