Table 1 Relationship between the fungal pollution and the questionnaire data of the studied WMs.
From: Evaluation of building washing machines as an extreme environment for potentially pathogenic fungi
Variables | Fungal contaminated | Uncontaminated | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Loading type | |||
Front | 38 | 9 | 47 (94%) |
Top | 3 | 0 | 3 (6%) |
Age | |||
1–5 years | 12 | 5 | 17 (34%) |
6–10 years | 18 | 2 | 20 (40%) |
> 10 years | 11 | 2 | 13 (26%) |
WMs location | |||
Kitchen | 31 | 7 | 38 (76%) |
Balcony | 6 | 0 | 6 (12%) |
Laundry room | 4 | 2 | 6 (12%) |
Ventilation type | |||
Window | 12 | 3 | 15 (30%) |
Kitchen fan | 7 | 1 | 8 (16%) |
Kitchen hood | 11 | 4 | 15 (30%) |
Fan & hood | 1 | 0 | 1 (2%) |
Window & hood | 1 | 0 | 1 (2%) |
Window & fan | 3 | 1 | 4 (8%) |
Fresh air | 6 | 0 | 6 (12%) |
Laundry time | |||
Weekly 1–2 | 21 | 6 | 27 (54%) |
Weekly 3–4 | 13 | 4 | 17 (34%) |
Weekly 5–7 | 5 | 0 | 5 (10%) |
Monthly | 1 | 0 | 1 (2%) |
Wash time | |||
10–30 min | 6 | 0 | 6 (12%) |
30–60 min | 14 | 6 | 20 (40%) |
> 1 h | 21 | 3 | 24 (48%) |
Washing temperature | |||
30 ℃ | 19 | 4 | 23 (46%) |
40 ℃ | 12 | 2 | 14 (28%) |
≥ 60 °C | 3 | 1 | 4 (8%) |
Variable | 7 | 2 | 9 (18%) |
Laundry detergent | |||
Powder | 21 | 5 | 26 (52%) |
Liquid | 11 | 1 | 12 (24%) |
Both | 9 | 3 | 12 (24%) |
Laundry softener | |||
With softener | 17 | 4 | 21 (42%) |
Without softener | 24 | 5 | 29 (58%) |
Laundry bleach | |||
With bleach | 12 | 3 | 15 (30%) |
Without bleach | 29 | 6 | 35 (70%) |
Drying rubber door seal | |||
Drying with towel | 3 | 2 | 5 (10%) |
Drying with air flow | 29 | 7 | 36 (72%) |
Without drying | 9 | 0 | 9 (18%) |
Pigmentation | |||
With pigmentation | 14 | 0 | 14 (28%) |
Without pigmentation | 27 | 9 | 36 (72%) |
Pigmentation color | |||
Dark | 9 | 0 | 9 (64%) |
Yellow | 5 | 0 | 5 (36%) |
Pigmentation site | |||
Powder drawer | 9 | 0 | 9 (60%) |
Door rubber | 4 | 0 | 4 (27%) |
Powder drawer & door rubber | 2 | 0 | 2 (13%) |
Building type | |||
Apartment | 29 | 8 | 37 (74%) |
Traditional house | 12 | 1 | 13 (26%) |
Building age | |||
< 5 years | 15 | 3 | 18 (36%) |
5–10 years | 10 | 3 | 13 (26%) |
> 10 years | 16 | 3 | 19 (38%) |
Building ventilation | |||
Water cooler | 33 | 8 | 41 (82%) |
Air conditioner | 6 | 0 | 6 (12%) |
Water cooler & Air conditioner | 2 | 1 | 3 (6%) |
House resident numbers | |||
1–2 | 10 | 5 | 15 (30%) |
3–4 | 26 | 4 | 30 (60%) |
5–6 | 4 | 0 | 4 (8%) |
≥ 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 (2%) |
Cleaning WMs routine | |||
Weekly cleaning | 3 | 0 | 3 (6%) |
Monthly cleaning | 1 | 2 | 3 (6%) |
Without cleaning | 37 | 7 | 44 (88%) |
Total WMs | 41 (82%) | 9 (18%) | 50 (100%) |
