Microorganisms Found in the Tannery Air

Past research has shown that there may be different types of microorganisms in the tannery air. These microorganisms can be harmful for the health of the employees and for the leather. Pathogenic bacteria in genus Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Nocardiopsis and other putrefaction microorganisms and fungi that can damage the leather enter the tannery with the raw hides. During the experiment, a Petri plate with Sabouraud culture medium was exposed to the tannery air, being kept open for 13 minutes in the wet operations area of a tannery. After incubation at 30°C, the plates were analyzed after 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days for the identification of the microorganisms in the air. At the end of the experiment the mould colonies that have grown were analysed using the optical microscope. Multiple colonies of Penicillium and a colony of Aspergillus flavus have grown on the nutrient medium. Our experiment proved that there are spores of Penicillium and Aspergillus flavus in the tannery air. These moulds can damage the leather and Aspergillus flavus produces afflation, being harmful for the health.