The Impact of Exposure Time and Fumigation Intensity of Dhoopa on Indoor Microbial Load

Airborne microorganisms, including potentially pathogenic species, are widely present in the environment and require effective control measures. Traditional fumigation practices such as Havana and Dhoopa fumigation have been used for centuries to lower microbial contamination and reduce the risk of infection. In this study, two Dhoopa Formulations (DF-I and DF-II) were developed using natural ingredients with known antimicrobial properties—cow ghee, camphor, neem leaves and bark, drumstick leaves and bark, mustard seeds, and Guggul resin. To assess fumigation intensity, different concentrations of Dhoopa (2 g, 4 g, 6 g, 8 g, 10 g, and 12 g) were tested at exposure times ranging from 1 to 5 hours, in a closed room of 1000 cubic feet using an electric burner and antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated by quantifying bacterial and fungal colony-forming units (CFU) in indoor air. The maximum fumigation effect was observed at the 10 g concentration at 4 hr. To assess the effect of exposure duration, fumigation with Dhoopa Formulations (DF-I and DF-II) was carried out separately in a closed room of 1000 cubic feet. Both formulations produced highly significant (p < 0.001), time-dependent reductions in microbial counts, with the strongest activity observed at the 4th hour using a 10 g concentration. DF-I achieved a 96.30% fumigation effect in bacterial colonies and 95.20% in fungal colonies, while DF-II exhibited 93.00% fumigation effect in bacterial colonies and 95.83% in fungal colonies. These results indicate that both formulations maintain strong antimicrobial efficacy, with maximum microbial load reduction at 4 hours, demonstrating their effectiveness for prolonged indoor air disinfection.