Isolation and identification of gram negative bacteria from raw baled cotton and synthetic textile fibers with special reference to environmental GNB and endotoxin concentrations of textile mill.

The objective of this study was to examine the gram-negative bacterial (GNB) content of Indian raw baled cotton fibers and to compare with the U.S. cottons. Airborne endotoxin also was estimated in the different work places of the mill. On comparison with data on U.S. cottons, GNB content was found to be as high as in U.S. cottons. Moreover, endotoxin concentration of cardroom dust from an Indian cotton mill was found to be significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than in the research laboratory of the same cotton mill as well as in the cardroom of a synthetic mill.