Water Quality Monitoring :
Microbiological water quality refers to the assessment of water based on the presence and concentration of microorganisms that may impact health.
This includes bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The quality of water is considered acceptable if it is free from harmful microorganisms and meets safety standards for human consumption or other uses.
Testing Methods:
Membrane Filtration: Water is filtered through a membrane that traps microorganisms, which are then cultured to determine their presence.
A statistical method to estimate the concentration of microorganisms in water samples.
Soil Quality Monitoring:
Soil quality monitoring through microbiology involves assessing the health and functionality of soil ecosystems by examining the microbial communities within the soil Microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and nematodes, play crucial roles in soil processes such as nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and soil structure formation.
Techniques for Soil Microbiological Analysis:
Traditional method where soil samples are plated on growth media to isolate and count viable microorganisms. This approach helps identify specific microbes but may miss non-culturable species.
Techniques like fluorescence microscopy can visualize and count microbial cells or specific groups of microorganisms based on staining methods.
Air Quality Monitoring:
Air quality monitoring in microbiology focuses on assessing and managing the microbial content in the air to ensure a safe and controlled environment.
Monitoring Methods:
Active Air Sampling: Uses a device to draw a known volume of air through a collection medium where microorganisms can be captured and later analyzed.
Analytical Techniques:
Involves growing microorganisms from air samples on selective or non-selective media to identify and quantify them.
This can include techniques like: Plating: Counting colony-forming units (CFUs) on agar plates.
