Microbes in the Works by E. C. HILL of the Department of Microbiology, University College, Cardiff
Have you ever noticed the sickenng smells that persist inside an engineering workshop? This is not poor ventilation: it is due to bacterial decomposition of the lubricating oils used in engineering practice. But the smell is not the worst part of the problem. The bacteria can make the oil completely useless as a lubricant and so ensure failure of machinery.