The Second International Proficiency Testing Conference Sibiu, Romania (15)16 th − 18 th September, 2009 221 EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL HAZARD THROUGH CULTURE- BASED METHOD IN LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES FROM SIBIU Mihaela Stoia 1 , Simona Oancea 2 , Geta Hilma 1 1 Public Health Direction, 3, Gheorghe Baritiu Street, 551130 Sibiu, Romania 2 University “Lucian Blaga” of Sibiu, Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Food Industry and Environmental Protection, 5-7, Ion Ratiu Street, 550012, Sibiu, Romania 1 medmuncii@aspsibiu.ro, 2 simona.oancea@ulbsibiu.ro Abstract The aim of this study was to estimate the level of exposure to biological agents in workers from libraries and archives. We quantified microbiological indicators of air and surfaces contamination, as follows: total number of germs per mc air and per collected surface, total number of hemolytic germs per mc air and per collected surface, and total number of fungi (mold and dregs) per mc air and per collected surface. Methods of evaluation of microbiological air pollution consist of sedimentation on miscellaneous media in Petri plates adequate to the isolated microorganisms. Surfaces contamination was evaluated by sampling 10x10 cm surface with a swab and than sowing on different culture media. Microbiological analysis was performed according to Romanian law (MH Order no 261/2007). Results: 70% from the 40 samples collected and analyzed were unsuitable. We found a significant amount of mold on working surfaces (office, books, and documents). 20 from the 28 samples of mold proceeded from archives. Hemolytic germs were identified in 10 samples. We concluded that employees from these workplaces are exposed to biological agents with possible consequences on their health. We suggest in the future the use of molecular methods in evaluating airborne biocontaminants (quantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification), which are more sensitive and specific than traditional methods. Key words Airborne biocontaminants, libraries, archives, risk.