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Boura D, Spanakis M, Markakis G, Notas G, Lionis C, Tzanakis N, Paraskakis E. Exploring the Relationship between Wind Patterns and Hospital Admissions Due to Respiratory Symptoms in Children. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:717. [PMID: 38929296 PMCID: PMC11201383 DOI: 10.3390/children11060717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Respiratory disorders significantly impact adolescents' health, often resulting in hospital admissions. Meteorological elements such as wind patterns have emerged as potential contributors to respiratory symptoms. However, it remains uncertain whether fluctuations in wind characteristics over extended periods have a tangible impact on respiratory health, particularly in regions characterized by distinct annual wind patterns. Crete is situated in the central-eastern Mediterranean Sea and frequently faces southerly winds carrying Sahara Desert sand from Africa and northerly winds from the Aegean Sea. This retrospective study analyzes long-term wind direction data and their relationship to respiratory symptoms observed in children up to 14 years old admitted at the University Hospital of Heraklion between 2002 and 2010. Symptoms such as headache, dyspnea, dry cough, dizziness, tachypnea, throat ache, and earache were predominantly reported during the presence of southern winds. Fever, productive cough, and chest pain were more frequently reported during northern winds. Cough was the most common symptom regardless of the wind pattern. Southern winds were significantly associated with higher probabilities of productive or non-productive cough, headache, dyspnea, tachypnea, dizziness, earache, and throat ache. Northern winds were related to a higher incidence of productive cough. Rhinitis, asthma, allergies, pharyngitis, and sinusitis were related to southern winds, while bronchiolitis and pneumonia were associated with northern winds. These findings underscore the critical role of local climatic factors, emphasizing their potential impact on exacerbating respiratory conditions in children. Moreover, they point out the need for further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted interventions for at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Boura
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (D.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Marios Spanakis
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece;
- Computational Bio-Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research & Technology–Hellas, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
| | - George Markakis
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71004 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - George Notas
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Christos Lionis
- Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Nikolaos Tzanakis
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (D.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Emmanouil Paraskakis
- Paediatric Respiratory Unit, Paediatric Department, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
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2
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Ruiz-Llacsahuanga B, Sanchez-Tamayo M, Kumar GD, Critzer F. Comparison of Three Air Sampling Methods for the Quantification of Salmonella, Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), Coliforms, and Generic E. coli from Bioaerosols of Cattle and Poultry Farms. J Food Prot 2024; 87:100282. [PMID: 38663638 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Recent fresh produce outbreaks potentially associated with bioaerosol contamination from animal operations in adjacent land highlighted the need for further study to better understand the associated risk. The purpose of this research was to evaluate three sampling methods for quantifying target bacterial bioaerosols from animal operations. A dairy cattle and poultry farm located in Georgia, U.S. were visited six times each. Air was collected for 10 min using: 2-stage Andersen impactor with and without mineral oil overlay and impingement samplers. Sampling devices were run concurrently at 0.1, 1, and 2 m heights (n = 36). Andersen samplers were loaded with CHROMagar™ Salmonella, CHROMagar™ STEC, or Brilliance™ coliforms/E. coli. The impingement sampler contained buffered peptone water (20 mL) which was vacuum filtered through a 0.45 µm filter and placed onto the respective media. Plates were incubated at 37 ℃ for 48 h. PCR confirmation followed targeting ttr for Salmonella and stx1, stx2, and eae genes for STEC. No significant differences were found among methods to quantify coliforms and E. coli. Salmonella and STEC bioaerosols were not detected by any of the methods (Limit of detection: 0.55 log CFU/m3). E. coli bioaerosols were significantly greater in the poultry (2.76-5.00 log CFU/m3) than in the cattle farm (0.55-2.82 log CFU/m3) (p < 0.05), and similarly distributed at both stages in the Andersen sampler (stage 1:>7 μm; stage 2: 0.65-7 μm particle size). Sampling day did not have a significant effect on the recovery of coliforms/E. coli bioaerosols in the poultry farm when samples were taken at the broiler house exhaust fan (p > 0.05). A greater and constant emission of coliforms and E. coli bioaerosols from the poultry farm warrants further investigation. These data will help inform bioaerosol sampling techniques which can be used for the quantification of bacterial foodborne pathogens and indicator organisms for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Ruiz-Llacsahuanga
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, 100 Cedar St., Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Martha Sanchez-Tamayo
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, 100 Cedar St., Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Govindaraj Dev Kumar
- Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA 30223, USA
| | - Faith Critzer
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, 100 Cedar St., Athens, GA 30602, USA
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3
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Liger E, Hernández F, Expósito FJ, Díaz JP, Salazar-Carballo PA, Gordo E, González C, López-Pérez M. Transport and deposition of radionuclides from northern Africa to the southern Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands during the intense dust intrusions of March 2022. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 352:141303. [PMID: 38280650 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
The present study focuses on the two consecutive and markedly intense Saharan dust intrusion episodes that greatly affected southern Spain (Málaga) and, to a lesser extent, the Canary Islands (Tenerife), in March 2022. These two episodes were the result of atypical meteorological conditions in the region and resulted in record levels of aerosols in the air at the Málaga location. The activity levels of various natural and artificial radionuclides (7Be, 210Pb, 40K, 137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu, 239+240Pu) and radioactive indicators (gross alpha and gross beta) were impacted by these events and the results are described herein. These episodes caused, for example, the activities of 137Cs in aerosol samples at the Málaga monitoring station to reach the highest concentrations ever recorded since high-volume aerosol monitoring started at this site in 2009. A link between the activity levels of 137Cs, 40K and gross alpha in the atmospheric aerosols and daily PM10 concentrations during the episodes is also reported. In addition, isotopic ratios are discussed in the context of the source and destination of the various anthropogenic radionuclides measured. The atmospheric residence time of aerosols during these episodes is also evaluated because it concerns how intrusions to the Canary Islands should be analysed. Finally, for the first time, the concentrations of 137Cs deposition by rainwater during a Saharan dust intrusion are reported and the deposition rate of these radionuclides during these episodes is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Liger
- Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Universidad de Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Geoquímica y Radiactividad Ambiental, Universidad de Málaga, Spain.
| | - Francisco Hernández
- Grupo de Geoquímica y Radiactividad Ambiental, Universidad de Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Observación de la Tierra y la Atmósfera, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
| | | | - Juan Pedro Díaz
- Grupo de Observación de la Tierra y la Atmósfera, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Pedro A Salazar-Carballo
- Laboratorio de Física Médica y Radioactividad Ambiental, SEGAI, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain; Departamento de Medicina Física y Farmacología, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Elisa Gordo
- Grupo de Geoquímica y Radiactividad Ambiental, Universidad de Málaga, Spain; Servicios Centrales de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad de Málaga, Spain
| | - Cristina González
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias. Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
| | - María López-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Física Médica y Radioactividad Ambiental, SEGAI, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
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Mohaimin AZ, Krishnamoorthy S, Shivanand P. A critical review on bioaerosols-dispersal of crop pathogenic microorganisms and their impact on crop yield. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:587-628. [PMID: 38001398 PMCID: PMC10920616 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01179-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioaerosols are potential sources of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause devastating outbreaks of global crop diseases. Various microorganisms, insects and viroids are known to cause severe crop diseases impeding global agro-economy. Such losses threaten global food security, as it is estimated that almost 821 million people are underfed due to global crisis in food production. It is estimated that global population would reach 10 billion by 2050. Hence, it is imperative to substantially increase global food production to about 60% more than the existing levels. To meet the increasing demand, it is essential to control crop diseases and increase yield. Better understanding of the dispersive nature of bioaerosols, seasonal variations, regional diversity and load would enable in formulating improved strategies to control disease severity, onset and spread. Further, insights on regional and global bioaerosol composition and dissemination would help in predicting and preventing endemic and epidemic outbreaks of crop diseases. Advanced knowledge of the factors influencing disease onset and progress, mechanism of pathogen attachment and penetration, dispersal of pathogens, life cycle and the mode of infection, aid the development and implementation of species-specific and region-specific preventive strategies to control crop diseases. Intriguingly, development of R gene-mediated resistant varieties has shown promising results in controlling crop diseases. Forthcoming studies on the development of an appropriately stacked R gene with a wide range of resistance to crop diseases would enable proper management and yield. The article reviews various aspects of pathogenic bioaerosols, pathogen invasion and infestation, crop diseases and yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Zul'Adly Mohaimin
- Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Sarayu Krishnamoorthy
- Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Pooja Shivanand
- Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
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Navarro A, Del Moral A, Weber B, Weber J, Molinero A, Delgado R, Párraga J, Martínez-Checa F. Microbial composition of Saharan dust plumes deposited as red rain in Granada (Southern Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169745. [PMID: 38163611 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
During durst storms, also biological material is transported from arid areas such as the Sahara Desert. In the present work, rain samples containing significant amounts of mineral dust have been collected in Granada during different red rain episodes. Biological features (bacteria, biofilm, pollen grain and fungal spore) as well as size-particle distribution and mineralogical composition were studied by SEM. Nanobacteria were observed for the first time in red rain samples. A preliminary metabarcoding analysis was performed on three red rain samples. Here, Bacillota made up 18 % and Pseudomonadota 23 % of the whole prokaryotic community. The fungal community was characterized by a high abundance of Ascomycota and, dependent on the origin, the presence of Chytridiomycota. By means of 16S rRNA sequencing, 18 cultivable microorganisms were identified. In general, members of the phyla Pseudomonadota and Bacillota made up the majority of taxa. Some species, such as Peribacillus frigoritolerans and Bacillus halotolerans were isolated during three different red rain episodes. Generally, red rain carries a wide variety of microorganisms, being their ecosystem and health effects largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azahara Navarro
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Del Moral
- Department of Microbiology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Bettina Weber
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jens Weber
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Alberto Molinero
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Delgado
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús Párraga
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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6
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Tastassa AC, Sharaby Y, Lang-Yona N. Aeromicrobiology: A global review of the cycling and relationships of bioaerosols with the atmosphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168478. [PMID: 37967625 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Airborne microorganisms and biological matter (bioaerosols) play a key role in global biogeochemical cycling, human and crop health trends, and climate patterns. Their presence in the atmosphere is controlled by three main stages: emission, transport, and deposition. Aerial survival rates of bioaerosols are increased through adaptations such as ultra-violet radiation and desiccation resistance or association with particulate matter. Current research into modern concerns such as climate change, global gene transfer, and pathogenicity often neglects to consider atmospheric involvement. This comprehensive review outlines the transpiring of bioaerosols across taxa in the atmosphere, with significant focus on their interactions with environmental elements including abiotic factors (e.g., atmospheric composition, water cycle, and pollution) and events (e.g., dust storms, hurricanes, and wildfires). The aim of this review is to increase understanding and shed light on needed research regarding the interplay between global atmospheric phenomena and the aeromicrobiome. The abundantly documented bacteria and fungi are discussed in context of their cycling and human health impacts. Gaps in knowledge regarding airborne viral community, the challenges and importance of studying their composition, concentrations and survival in the air are addressed, along with understudied plant pathogenic oomycetes, and archaea cycling. Key methodologies in sampling, collection, and processing are described to provide an up-to-date picture of ameliorations in the field. We propose optimization to microbiological methods, commonly used in soil and water analysis, that adjust them to the context of aerobiology, along with other directions towards novel and necessary advancements. This review offers new perspectives into aeromicrobiology and calls for advancements in global-scale bioremediation, insights into ecology, climate change impacts, and pathogenicity transmittance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel C Tastassa
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel
| | - Yehonatan Sharaby
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel
| | - Naama Lang-Yona
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel.
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7
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Das S, McEwen A, Prospero J, Spalink D, Chellam S. Respirable Metals, Bacteria, and Fungi during a Saharan-Sahelian Dust Event in Houston, Texas. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19942-19955. [PMID: 37943153 PMCID: PMC10862556 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Although airborne bacteria and fungi can impact human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health, very few studies have investigated the possible impact of their long-range transport in the context of more commonly measured aerosol species, especially those present in an urban environment. We report first-of-kind simultaneous measurements of the elemental and microbial composition of North American respirable airborne particulate matter concurrent with a Saharan-Sahelian dust episode. Comprehensive taxonomic and phylogenetic profiles of microbial communities obtained by 16S/18S/ITS rDNA sequencing identified hundreds of bacteria and fungi, including several cataloged in the World Health Organization's lists of global priority human pathogens along with numerous other animal and plant pathogens and (poly)extremophiles. While elemental analysis sensitively tracked long-range transported Saharan dust and its mixing with locally emitted aerosols, microbial diversity, phylogeny, composition, and abundance did not well correlate with the apportioned African dust mass. Bacterial/fungal diversity, phylogenetic signal, and community turnover were strongly correlated to apportioned sources (especially vehicular emissions and construction activities) and elemental composition (especially calcium). Bacterial communities were substantially more dissimilar from each other across sampling days than were fungal communities. Generalized dissimilarity modeling revealed that daily compositional turnover in both communities was linked to calcium concentrations and aerosols from local vehicles and Saharan dust. Because African dust is known to impact large areas in northern South America, the Caribbean Basin, and the southern United States, the microbiological impacts of such long-range transport should be assessed in these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Das
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Alyvia McEwen
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Joseph Prospero
- Rosenstiel
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33149, United States
| | - Daniel Spalink
- Department
of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas
A&M University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Shankararaman Chellam
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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8
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Liu T, Duan F, Ma Y, Ma T, Zhang Q, Xu Y, Li F, Huang T, Kimoto T, Zhang Q, He K. Classification and sources of extremely severe sandstorms mixed with haze pollution in Beijing. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121154. [PMID: 36736562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Air quality has significantly improved in China; however, new challenges emerge when dust weather is combined with haze pollution during spring in northern China. On March 15, 2021, an extremely severe sandstorm occurred in Beijing, with hourly maximum PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations reaching 5267.7 μg m-3 and 963.9 μg m-3, respectively. Continuous sandstorm events usually lead to complicated pollution status in spring. Three pollution types were identified disregarding the time sequence throughout March. The secondary formation type was dominant, with high ratios of PM2.5/PM10 (mean 74%) and PM1/PM2.5 (mean 52%). This suggests that secondary transformations are the primary cause of heavy pollution, even during the dry seasons. Sandstorm type resulted in dramatic PM10 levels, with a noticeable decrease in PM2.5/PM10 levels (27%), although PM2.5 levels remain high. The transitional pollution type was distinguished by an independent increase in PM10 levels, although PM2.5 and PM1 levels differed from the PM10 levels. Throughout March, the sulfur oxidation rate varied considerably, with high levels during most periods (mean 0.52). A strong correlation indicated that relative humidity was the primary variable promoting the formation of secondary sulfate. Sandstorms promote heterogeneous reactions by providing abundant reaction surfaces from mineral particles, therefore aggravating secondary pollution. The sandstorm air mass from the northwest passing through the sand sources of Mongolia carried not only crustal matter but also organic components, such as bioaerosols, resulting in a sharp increase in the organic carbon in PM2.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Fengkui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yongliang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yunzhi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Fan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Kimoto Electric Co., Ltd, 3-1 Funahashi-cho Tennoji-ku, Osaka, 543-0024, Japan
| | - Takashi Kimoto
- Kimoto Electric Co., Ltd, 3-1 Funahashi-cho Tennoji-ku, Osaka, 543-0024, Japan
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Kebin He
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Military personnel deployed to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan were potentially exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter and other pollutants from multiple sources, including dust storms, burn pit emissions from open-air waste burning, local ambient air pollution, and a range of military service-related activities that can generate airborne exposures. These exposures, individually or in combination, can have adverse respiratory health effects. We review exposures and potential health impacts, providing a framework for evaluation. RECENT FINDINGS Particulate matter exposures during deployment exceeded U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Epidemiologic studies and case series suggest that in postdeployment Veterans with respiratory symptoms, asthma is the most commonly diagnosed illness. Small airway abnormalities, most notably particularly constrictive bronchiolitis, have been reported in a small number of deployers, but many are left without an established diagnosis for their respiratory symptoms. The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act was enacted to provide care for conditions presumed to be related to deployment exposures. Rigorous study of long-term postdeployment health has been limited. SUMMARY Veterans postdeployment to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan with respiratory symptoms should undergo an exposure assessment and comprehensive medical evaluation. If required, more advanced diagnostic considerations should be utilized in a setting that can provide multidisciplinary expertise and long-term follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine Section, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System; Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paul D. Blanc
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, UC San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
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Foster NR, Martin B, Hoogewerff J, Aberle MG, de Caritat P, Roffey P, Edwards R, Malik A, Thwaites P, Waycott M, Young J. The utility of dust for forensic intelligence: Exploring collection methods and detection limits for environmental DNA, elemental and mineralogical analyses of dust samples. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 344:111599. [PMID: 36801501 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA), elemental and mineralogical analyses of soil have been shown to be specific to their source material, prompting consideration of using the airborne fraction of soil (dust) for forensic intelligence work. Dust is ubiquitous in the environment and is easily transferred to items belonging to a person of interest, making dust analysis an ideal tool in forensic casework. The advent of Massive Parallel Sequencing technologies means metabarcoding of eDNA can uncover bacterial, fungal, and even plant genetic fingerprints in dust particles. Combining this with elemental and mineralogical compositions offers multiple, complementary lines of evidence for tracing the origin of an unknown dust sample. This is particularly pertinent when recovering dust from a person of interest to ascertain where they may have travelled. Prior to proposing dust as a forensic trace material, however, the optimum sampling protocols and detection limits need to be established to place parameters around its utility in this context. We tested several approaches to collecting dust from different materials and determined the lowest quantity of dust that could be analysed for eDNA, elemental composition and mineralogy, whilst still yielding results capable of distinguishing between sites. We found that fungal eDNA profiles could be obtained from multiple sample types and that tape lifts were the optimum collection method for discriminating between sites. We successfully recovered both fungal and bacterial eDNA profiles down to 3 mg of dust (the lowest tested quantity) and recovered elemental and mineralogical compositions for all tested sample quantities. We show that dust can be reliably recovered from different sample types, using different sampling techniques, and that fungi and bacteria, as well as elemental and mineralogical profiles, can be generated from small sample quantities, highlighting the utility of dust for forensic intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Foster
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia.
| | - Belinda Martin
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Jurian Hoogewerff
- National Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory 2617, Australia
| | - Michael G Aberle
- National Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory 2617, Australia
| | - Patrice de Caritat
- Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Paul Roffey
- Australian Federal Police, GPO Box 401, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Robert Edwards
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Arif Malik
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Priscilla Thwaites
- Defence Science Technology Group, PO Box 793, Canberra BC, Australian Capital Territory 2610, Australia
| | - Michelle Waycott
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Jennifer Young
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
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11
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Neira M, Erguler K, Ahmady-Birgani H, Al-Hmoud ND, Fears R, Gogos C, Hobbhahn N, Koliou M, Kostrikis LG, Lelieveld J, Majeed A, Paz S, Rudich Y, Saad-Hussein A, Shaheen M, Tobias A, Christophides G. Climate change and human health in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East: Literature review, research priorities and policy suggestions. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114537. [PMID: 36273599 PMCID: PMC9729515 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Human health is linked to climatic factors in complex ways, and climate change can have profound direct and indirect impacts on the health status of any given region. Susceptibility to climate change is modulated by biological, ecological and socio-political factors such as age, gender, geographic location, socio-economic status, occupation, health status and housing conditions, among other. In the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME), climatic factors known to affect human health include extreme heat, water shortages and air pollution. Furthermore, the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) and the health consequences of population displacement are also influenced by climate change in this region. To inform future policies for adaptation and mitigation measures, and based on an extensive review of the available knowledge, we recommend several research priorities for the region. These include the generation of more empirical evidence on exposure-response functions involving climate change and specific health outcomes, the development of appropriate methodologies to evaluate the physical and psychological effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, determining how climate change alters the ecological determinants of human health, improving our understanding of the effects of long-term exposure to heat stress and air pollution, and evaluating the interactions between adaptation and mitigation strategies. Because national boundaries do not limit most climate-related factors expected to impact human health, we propose that adaptation/mitigation policies must have a regional scope, and therefore require collaborative efforts among EMME nations. Policy suggestions include a decisive region-wide decarbonisation, the integration of environmentally driven morbidity and mortality data throughout the region, advancing the development and widespread use of affordable technologies for the production and management of drinking water by non-traditional means, the development of comprehensive strategies to improve the health status of displaced populations, and fostering regional networks for monitoring and controlling the spread of infectious diseases and disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Neira
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Kamil Erguler
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Robin Fears
- European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Nina Hobbhahn
- European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Maria Koliou
- University of Cyprus Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Leondios G Kostrikis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus; Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Jos Lelieveld
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus; Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
| | - Azeem Majeed
- Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shlomit Paz
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yinon Rudich
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Weismann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amal Saad-Hussein
- Environment and Climate Change Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohammed Shaheen
- Damour for Community Development - Research Department, Palestine
| | - Aurelio Tobias
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - George Christophides
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus; Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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12
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Rodríguez-Arias RM, Rojo J, Fernández-González F, Pérez-Badia R. Desert dust intrusions and their incidence on airborne biological content. Review and case study in the Iberian Peninsula. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120464. [PMID: 36273688 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Desert dust intrusions cause the transport of airborne particulate matter from natural sources, with important consequences for climate regulation, biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and dynamics, human health, and socio-economic activities. Some effects of desert intrusions are reinforced or aggravated by the bioaerosol content of the air during these episodes. The influence of desert intrusions on airborne bioaerosol content has been very little studied from a scientific point of view. In this study, a systematic review of scientific literature during 1970-2021 was carried out following the standard protocol Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). After this literature review, only 6% of the articles on airborne transport from desert areas published in the last 50 years are in some way associated with airborne pollen, and of these, only a small proportion focus on the study of pollen-related parameters. The Iberian Peninsula is affected by Saharan intrusions due to its proximity to the African continent and is seeing an increasing trend the number of intrusion events. There is a close relationship among the conditions favouring the occurrence of intrusion episodes, the transport of particulate matter, and the transport of bioaerosols such as pollen grains, spores, or bacteria. The lack of linearity in this relationship and the different seasonal patterns in the occurrence of intrusion events and the pollen season of most plants hinders the study of the correspondence between both phenomena. It is therefore important to analyse the proportion of pollen that comes from regional sources and the proportion that travels over long distances, and the atmospheric conditions that cause greater pollen emission during dust episodes. Current advances in aerobiological techniques make it possible to identify bioaerosols such as pollen and spores that serve as indicators of long-distance transport from remote areas belonging to other bioclimatic and biogeographical units. A greater incidence of desert intrusion episodes may pose a challenge for both traditional systems and for the calibration and correct validation of automatic aerobiological monitoring methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Rodríguez-Arias
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain
| | - J Rojo
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Fernández-González
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain
| | - R Pérez-Badia
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain.
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13
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Sorkheh M, Asgari HM, Zamani I, Ghanbari F. The Relationship Between Dust Sources and Airborne Bacteria in the Southwest of Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:82045-82063. [PMID: 35748994 PMCID: PMC9244375 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21563-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The biological agents are carried from deserts and dried lands to long distances by high dust volumes. Their adverse effects can be reduced by specifying and controlling dust sources and their related biological agents. Thus, the current work examined the relationship between the bacteria in air and soil samples by taking samples from the soil surface of two dust sources, as well as from air samples during spring from Khorramshahr and Abadan cities. The dust event is the most influential factor on airborne bacteria. There is an insignificant negative (-0.06), insignificant positive (0.14), and weak positive (0.24) correlation between airborne bacteria and UV radiation, relative humidity, and temperature, respectively. After preparing a 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clone library from the soil and air samples, operational taxonomic unit picking and taxonomic assignment were conducted using QIIME Virtual Box. In the present work, Bacillus was the dominant species. The relationship between dust sources and air samples was determined by principal component analysis. Bacteria in the Hoor-Al-Azim dust source and airborne bacteria on dusty and non-dusty days showed a more significant correlation compared to bacteria in the Shadegan dust source. Source Tracker software was used to estimate the contribution of dust sources. The primary source of dust was associated with the dried areas of Hoor-Al-Azim on the non-dusty and dusty days. Finally, the long transport of airborne bacteria was assessed by moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the back trajectory model of Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) data. The research findings can help decision-makers prioritize dust sources to control the adverse effects of dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Sorkheh
- Faculty of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran
| | - Hossein Mohammad Asgari
- Department of Marine Environment, Faculty of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran.
| | - Isaac Zamani
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science and Oceanography, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran
| | - Farshid Ghanbari
- Research Center for Environmental Contaminants (RCEC), Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
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14
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Wang Y, Cheng X, Wang H, Zhou J, Liu X, Tuovinen OH. The Characterization of Microbiome and Interactions on Weathered Rocks in a Subsurface Karst Cave, Central China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:909494. [PMID: 35847118 PMCID: PMC9277220 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.909494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Karst caves are a natural oligotrophic subsurface biosphere widely distributed in southern China. Despite the progress in bacterial and fungal diversity, the knowledge about interactions between bacteria, fungi, and minerals is still limited in caves. Hence, for the first time, we investigated the interaction between bacteria and fungi living on weathered rocks in the Heshang Cave via high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS1 genes, and co-occurrence analysis. The mineral compositions of weathered rocks were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Bacterial communities were dominated by Actinobacteria (33.68%), followed by Alphaproteobacteria (8.78%), and Planctomycetia (8.73%). In contrast, fungal communities were dominated by Sordariomycetes (21.08%) and Dothideomycetes (14.06%). Mineral substrata, particularly phosphorus-bearing minerals, significantly impacted bacterial (hydroxyapatite) and fungal (fluorapatite) communities as indicated by the redundancy analysis. In comparison with fungi, the development of bacterial communities was more controlled by the environmental selection indicated by the overwhelming contribution of deterministic processes. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that all nodes were positively linked, indicating ubiquitous cooperation within bacterial groups and fungal groups, as well as between bacteria and fungi under oligotrophic conditions in the subsurface biosphere. In total, 19 bacterial ASVs and 34 fungal OTUs were identified as keystone taxa, suggesting the fundamental role of fungi in maintaining the microbial ecosystem on weathered rocks. Ascomycota was most dominant in keystone taxa, accounting for 26.42%, followed by Actinobacteria in bacteria (24.53%). Collectively, our results confirmed the highly diverse bacterial and fungal communities on weathered rocks, and their close cooperation to sustain the subsurface ecosystem. Phosphorus-bearing minerals were of significance in shaping epipetreous bacterial and fungal communities. These observations provide new knowledge about microbial interactions between bacteria, fungi, and minerals in the subterranean biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.,School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.,School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.,School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianping Zhou
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Olli H Tuovinen
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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15
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Rodriguez J, Price O, Jennings R, Creel A, Eaton S, Chesnutt J, McClellan G, Batni SR. A Novel Framework for Modeling Person-to-Person Transmission of Respiratory Diseases. Viruses 2022; 14:1567. [PMID: 35891547 PMCID: PMC9322782 DOI: 10.3390/v14071567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers assessed the impact of the disease in terms of loss of life, medical load, economic damage, and other key metrics of resiliency and consequence mitigation; these studies sought to parametrize the critical components of a disease transmission model and the resulting analyses were informative but often lacked critical parameters or a discussion of parameter sensitivities. Using SARS-CoV-2 as a case study, we present a robust modeling framework that considers disease transmissibility from the source through transport and dispersion and infectivity. The framework is designed to work across a range of particle sizes and estimate the generation rate, environmental fate, deposited dose, and infection, allowing for end-to-end analysis that can be transitioned to individual and population health models. In this paper, we perform sensitivity analysis on the model framework to demonstrate how it can be used to advance and prioritize research efforts by highlighting critical parameters for further analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Rodriguez
- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A220, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA; (J.R.); (O.P.); (R.J.); (A.C.); (S.E.); (J.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Owen Price
- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A220, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA; (J.R.); (O.P.); (R.J.); (A.C.); (S.E.); (J.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Rachel Jennings
- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A220, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA; (J.R.); (O.P.); (R.J.); (A.C.); (S.E.); (J.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Amy Creel
- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A220, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA; (J.R.); (O.P.); (R.J.); (A.C.); (S.E.); (J.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Sarah Eaton
- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A220, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA; (J.R.); (O.P.); (R.J.); (A.C.); (S.E.); (J.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Jennifer Chesnutt
- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A220, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA; (J.R.); (O.P.); (R.J.); (A.C.); (S.E.); (J.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Gene McClellan
- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), 4300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite A220, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA; (J.R.); (O.P.); (R.J.); (A.C.); (S.E.); (J.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Sweta R. Batni
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), 8725 John J. Kingman Road #6201, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, USA
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16
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Changes in Ambient Bacterial Community in Northern Taiwan during Long-Range Transport: Asian Dust Storm and Frontal Pollution. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Long-range transport (LRT) can carry air pollutants to downwind areas. However, studies about the impacts of LRT on bacterial communities are few. This study investigated the influence of Asian dust storms (ADS) and frontal pollution (FP) on bacterial communities in ambient air using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP). Air samples were collected at Cape Fugui (CF) and National Taiwan University (NTU) in northern Taiwan before (or background days), during, and after LRTs from November 2013 to March 2015. The richness, H index, and evenness increased during FPs and then decreased after FPs. During and after ADS and FP, the prevalence of the phylum Proteobacteria decreased, but that of Firmicutes increased. The dominant class of Proteobacteria changed from Alphaproteobacteria on background days to Betaproteobacteria during LRTs. At the genus level, the high abundance of Ralstonia and Bacillus during FP and Clostridium during ADS were detected at both locations. Additionally, Ralstonia was dominant at CF during ADS. In conclusion, FP and ADS both changed the bacterial community. The indicator genus was Clostridium and Ralstonia for ADS as well as Bacillus and Ralstonia for FP. Given the potential health threats posed by the bioaerosols transported, people should avoid outdoor activities during LRTs.
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17
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Iakovides M, Tsiamis G, Tziaras T, Stathopoulou P, Nikolaki S, Iakovides G, Stephanou EG. Two-year systematic investigation reveals alterations induced on chemical and bacteriome profile of PM 2.5 by African dust incursions to the Mediterranean atmosphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:151976. [PMID: 34843760 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PM2.5 atmospheric samples were regularly collected between January 2013 and March 2015 at a central location of Eastern Mediterranean (Island of Crete) during African dust events (DES) and periods of absence of such episodes as controls (CS). The elemental composition and microbiome DES and CS were thoroughly investigated. Fifty-six major and trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Relative mass abundances (RMA) of major crustal elements and lanthanoids were higher in DES than in CS. Conversely in CS, RMAs were higher for most anthropogenic transition metals. Lanthanum-to-other lanthanoids concentration ratios for DES approached the corresponding reference values for continental crust and several African dust source regions, while in CS they exceeded these values. USEPA's UNMIX receptor model, applied in all PM2.5 samples, established that African dust is the dominant contributing source (by 80%) followed by road dust/fuel oil emissions (17%) in the receptor area. Potential source contribution function (PSCF) identified dust hotspots in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. The application of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed high variation of bacterial composition and diversity between DES and CS samples. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroides were the most dominant in both DES and CS samples, representing ~88% of the total bacterial diversity. Cutibacterium, Tumebacillus and Sphingomonas dominated the CS samples, while Rhizobium and Brevundimonas were the most prevalent genera in DES. Mutual exclusion/co-occurrence network analysis indicated that Sphingomonas and Chryseobacterium exhibited the highest degrees of mutual exclusion in CS, while in DES the corresponding species were Brevundimonas, Delftia, Rubellimicrobium, Flavobacterium, Blastococcus, and Pseudarthrobacter. Some of these microorganisms are emerging global opportunistic pathogens and an increase in human exposure to them as a result of environmental changes, is inevitable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minas Iakovides
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - George Tsiamis
- Laboratory of Systems Microbiology and Applied Genomics, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 2 Seferi St, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
| | | | - Panagiota Stathopoulou
- Laboratory of Systems Microbiology and Applied Genomics, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 2 Seferi St, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
| | - Sofia Nikolaki
- Laboratory of Systems Microbiology and Applied Genomics, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 2 Seferi St, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
| | - Giannis Iakovides
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
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18
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Tajiki F, Asgari HM, Zamani I, Ghanbari F. Assessing the relationship between airborne fungi and potential dust sources using a combined approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:17799-17810. [PMID: 34676476 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17028-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dust events impose negative socio-economic, health, and environmental impacts on vulnerable areas and reflect their sources' physiochemical and biological characteristics. This study aimed to assess the impact of two dust sources on the concentration and diversity of airborne fungi in one of the dustiest areas in the world. This study is the first attempt to investigate the relationship between dust sources fungal community and those in airborne dust. Also, the contribution of dust sources to airborne fungi was estimated. Air masses arriving at the study area were assessed using local wind rose and the HYSPLIT model. Sampling was carried out from airborne dust at the Arvand Free Zone as target areas and soil in the dried parts of the Hor al-Azim and Shadegan wetlands as source areas to explore the relationship between fungi in the dust sources and the downwind area. The samples were analyzed in the lab to extract DNA. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA gene were amplified using the primers ITS1F and ITS4, and then PCR products were sent to the lab for sequencing. The raw DNA data were processed using the QIIME virtual box to pick operational taxonomic units and taxonomy assignments. The most common fungi at the genus level were in the order of Penicillium > Aspergillus > Alternaria > Fusarium > Paradendryphiella > Talaromyces. The similarity between air and soil fungal genera was investigated using richness and diversity indices, the phylogenetic tree, and principal component analysis. The results showed that the community structures of ambient fungi in the Hor al-Azim and Shadegan dust sources were more similar to those on dusty days than non-dusty days. The source tracker model was used to quantify the contributions of known dust sources to airborne fungi. The results showed that the main source of airborne fungi was Hor al-Azim on dusty and non-dusty days. This study's results can help managers identify and prioritize dust sources regarding fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forough Tajiki
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Sciences and Technology, P.B. 699, Khorramshahr, Iran
| | - Hossein Mohammad Asgari
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Sciences and Technology, P.B. 699, Khorramshahr, Iran.
| | - Isaac Zamani
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine and Oceanic Sciences, Khorramshahr University of Marine Sciences and Technology, P.B. 699, Khorramshahr, Iran
| | - Farshid Ghanbari
- Research Center for Environmental Contaminants (RCEC), Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
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19
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Martinez-Boubeta C, Simeonidis K. Airborne magnetic nanoparticles may contribute to COVID-19 outbreak: Relationships in Greece and Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112054. [PMID: 34547249 PMCID: PMC8450134 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
This work attempts to shed light on whether the COVID-19 pandemic rides on airborne pollution. In particular, a two-city study provides evidence that PM2.5 contributes to the timing and severity of the epidemic, without adjustment for confounders. The publicly available data of deaths between March and October 2020, updated it on May 30, 2021, and the average seasonal concentrations of PM2.5 pollution over the previous years in Thessaloniki, the second-largest city of Greece, were investigated. It was found that changes in coronavirus-related deaths follow changes in air pollution and that the correlation between the two data sets is maximized at the lag time of one month. Similar data from Tehran were gathered for comparison. The results of this study underscore that it is possible, if not likely, that pollution nanoparticles are related to COVID-19 fatalities (Granger causality, p < 0.05), contributing to the understanding of the environmental impact on pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Martinez-Boubeta
- Ecoresources P.C, Giannitson-Santaroza Str. 15-17, 54627, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - K Simeonidis
- Ecoresources P.C, Giannitson-Santaroza Str. 15-17, 54627, Thessaloniki, Greece; Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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20
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Triadó-Margarit X, Cáliz J, Casamayor EO. A long-term atmospheric baseline for intercontinental exchange of airborne pathogens. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106916. [PMID: 34627012 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is a potential pathway for global-scale and long-range dispersal of viable microorganisms, promoting biological interconnections among the total environment. We aimed to provide relevant baseline information for long-range long-term intercontinental exchange of potentially infectious airborne microorganisms of major interest in environmental and health-related disciplines. We used an interannual survey (7-y) with wet depositions fortnightly collected above the boundary layer (free troposphere) at a remote high-elevation LTER (Long-Term-Ecological-Research) site, analyzed by 16S and 18S rRNA genes, and compared to a database of 475 well-known pathogens. We applied a conservative approach on close relatives of pathogenic species (>98% identity) standing their theoretical upper limit for atmospheric baseline relative abundances. We identified c. 2-3% of the total airborne microbiota as potential pathogens. Their most frequent environmental origins were soil, aquatic, and anthropogenic sources. Phytopathogens (mostly fungi) were the potential infectious agents most widely present. We uncovered consistent interannual dynamics with taxa foreseeable over time (i.e., predictable seasonal behavior) and under recurrent environmental scenarios (e.g., Saharan dust intrusions), respectively, being highly valuable microbial forensic environmental indicators. Up to 8 bacterial and 21 fungal genera consistently showed temporal abundances and recurrences unevenly distributed. Incidence of allergenic fungi was lower in summer, and significantly higher in spring. Close relatives to Coccidioides posadasii consistently showed higher signals (i.e., high specificity and high fidelity) in winter, whereas Cryptococcus neoformans had a significant signal in spring. Along Saharan dust intrusions, the bacterial phytopathogens Acidovorax avenae and Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the fungal phytopathogens Pseudozyma hubeiensis and Peniophora sp. consistently showed higher signals. Potential human pathogens showed low proportion, being mostly fungal allergens. Microorganisms related to obligated human, amphibian and fish pathogens were commonly found in winter. More studies in remote field sites above the boundary layer will unveil whether or not a similar trend is found globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Triadó-Margarit
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group & LTER-AT Research Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes-Spanish Council for Research CEAB-CSIC, Blanes E-17300, Spain
| | - Joan Cáliz
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group & LTER-AT Research Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes-Spanish Council for Research CEAB-CSIC, Blanes E-17300, Spain
| | - Emilio O Casamayor
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group & LTER-AT Research Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes-Spanish Council for Research CEAB-CSIC, Blanes E-17300, Spain.
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21
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Investigation of Sources, Diversity, and Variability of Bacterial Aerosols in Athens, Greece: A Pilot Study. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We characterized the composition, diversity, and potential bacterial aerosol sources in Athens’ urban air by DNA barcoding (analysis of 16S rRNA genes) during three seasons in 2019. Air samples were collected using the recently developed Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS). It is the first field application of REPS to study bacterial aerosol diversity. REPS samplers captured a sufficient amount of biological material to demonstrate the diversity of airborne bacteria and their variability over time. Overall, in the air of Athens, we detected 793 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were fully classified into the six distinct taxonomic categories (Phylum, Class, Order, etc.). These OTUs belonged to Phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Fusobacteria. We found a complex community of bacterial aerosols with several opportunistic or potential pathogens in Athens’ urban air. Referring to the available literature, we discuss the likely sources of observed airborne bacteria, including soil, plants, animals, and humans. Our results on bacterial diversity are comparable to earlier studies, even though the sampling sites are different or geographically distant. However, the exact functional and ecological role of bioaerosols and, even more importantly, their impact on public health and the ecosystem requires further air monitoring and analysis.
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Gat D, Reicher N, Schechter S, Alayof M, Tarn MD, Wyld BV, Zimmermann R, Rudich Y. Size-Resolved Community Structure of Bacteria and Fungi Transported by Dust in the Middle East. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:744117. [PMID: 34858365 PMCID: PMC8631519 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.744117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The atmosphere plays an important role in transporting microorganisms on a global scale, yet the processes affecting the composition of the airborne microbiome, the aerobiome, are not fully outlined. Here we present the community compositions of bacteria and fungi obtained by DNA amplicon-sequencing of aerosol samples collected in a size-resolved manner during nine consecutive days in central Israel. The campaign captured dust events originating from the Sahara and the Arabian deserts, as well as days without dust ("clear days"). We found that the source of the aerosol was the main variable contributing to the composition of both fungal and bacterial communities. Significant differences were also observed between communities representing particles of different sizes. We show evidence for the significant transport of bacteria as cell-aggregates and/or via bacterial attachment to particles during dust events. Our findings further point to the mixing of local and transported bacterial communities, observed mostly in particles smaller than 0.6 μm in diameter, representing bacterial single cells. Fungal communities showed the highest dependence on the source of the aerosols, along with significant daily variability, and without significant mixing between sources, possibly due to their larger aerodynamic size and shorter atmospheric residence times. These results, obtained under highly varied atmospheric conditions, provide significant assurances to previously raised hypotheses and could set the course for future studies on aerobiome composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Gat
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Joint Mass Spectrometry Centre (JMSC), Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA), Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Munich, Germany
| | - Naama Reicher
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shai Schechter
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Matan Alayof
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mark D. Tarn
- Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Bethany V. Wyld
- Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Ralf Zimmermann
- Joint Mass Spectrometry Centre (JMSC), Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA), Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Munich, Germany
- Joint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Yinon Rudich
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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González-Martín C, Pérez-González CJ, González-Toril E, Expósito FJ, Aguilera Á, Díaz JP. Airborne Bacterial Community Composition According to Their Origin in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:732961. [PMID: 34737729 PMCID: PMC8563076 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.732961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are ubiquitous in the environment, and the atmosphere is no exception. However, airborne bacterial communities are some of the least studied. Increasing our knowledge about these communities and how environmental factors shape them is key to understanding disease outbreaks and transmission routes. We describe airborne bacterial communities at two different sites in Tenerife, La Laguna (urban, 600 m.a.s.l.) and Izaña (high mountain, 2,400 m.a.s.l.), and how they change throughout the year. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to target 16S rRNA genes in 293 samples. Results indicated a predominance of Proteobacteria at both sites (>65%), followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. Gammaproteobacteria were the most frequent within the Proteobacteria phylum during spring and winter, while Alphaproteobacteria dominated in the fall and summer. Within the 519 genera identified, Cellvibrio was the most frequent during spring (35.75%) and winter (30.73%); Limnobacter (24.49%) and Blastomonas (19.88%) dominated in the summer; and Sediminibacterium represented 10.26 and 12.41% of fall and winter samples, respectively. Sphingomonas was also identified in 17.15% of the fall samples. These five genera were more abundant at the high mountain site, while other common airborne bacteria were more frequent at the urban site (Kocuria, Delftia, Mesorhizobium, and Methylobacterium). Diversity values showed different patterns for both sites, with higher values during the cooler seasons in Izaña, whereas the opposite was observed in La Laguna. Regarding wind back trajectories, Tropical air masses were significantly different from African ones at both sites, showing the highest diversity and characterized by genera regularly associated with humans (Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and Cloacibacterium), as well as others related to extreme conditions (Alicyclobacillus) or typically associated with animals (Lachnospiraceae). Marine and African air masses were consistent and very similar in their microbial composition. By contrast, European trajectories were dominated by Cellvibrio, Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Sediminibacterium. These data contribute to our current state of knowledge in the field of atmospheric microbiology. However, future studies are needed to increase our understanding of the influence of different environmental factors on atmospheric microbial dispersion and the potential impact of airborne microorganisms on ecosystems and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina González-Martín
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Carlos J. Pérez-González
- Departamento de Matemáticas, Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Elena González-Toril
- Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | | | - Ángeles Aguilera
- Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - Juan P. Díaz
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
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High Antibacterial Effect of Impregnated Nanofiber Mats with a Green Nanogel Against Major Human Pathogens. BIONANOSCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12668-021-00860-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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25
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Petroselli C, Montalbani E, La Porta G, Crocchianti S, Moroni B, Casagrande C, Ceci E, Selvaggi R, Sebastiani B, Gandolfi I, Franzetti A, Federici E, Cappelletti D. Characterization of long-range transported bioaerosols in the Central Mediterranean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:143010. [PMID: 33131845 PMCID: PMC7571444 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Airborne bacteria were characterized over a 2-y period via high-throughput massive sequencing of 16S rRNA gene in aerosol samples collected at a background mountain European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) Network site (Monte Martano, Italy) located in the Central Mediterranean area. The air mass origin of nineteen samples was identified by air mass modelling and a detailed chemical analysis was performed. Four main origins (Saharan, North-western, North-eastern, and Regional) were identified, and distinct microbial communities were associated with these air masses. Samples featured a great bacterial diversity with Protobacteria being the most abundant phylum, and Sphingomonas followed by Acidovorax, Acinetobacter and Stenotrophomonas the most abundant genera of the dataset. Bacterial genera including potential human and animal pathogens were more abundant in European and in Regional samples compared to Saharan samples; this stressed the relevance of anthropic impact on bacterial populations transported by air masses that cross densely populated areas. The principal aerosol chemical characteristics and the airborne bacterial communities were correlated by cluster analysis, similarity tests and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, explaining most of the variability observed. However, the strong correlation between bacterial community structure and air mass origin hampered the possibility to disentangle the effects of variations in bacterial populations and in dust provenance on variations in chemical variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Petroselli
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK
| | - Elena Montalbani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianandrea La Porta
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Crocchianti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Beatrice Moroni
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Casagrande
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisa Ceci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberta Selvaggi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Bartolomeo Sebastiani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Isabella Gandolfi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Franzetti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - David Cappelletti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; CNR-ISP, Institute of Polar Science, National Research Council, Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy.
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Stern RA, Mahmoudi N, Buckee CO, Schartup AT, Koutrakis P, Ferguson ST, Wolfson JM, Wofsy SC, Daube BC, Sunderland EM. The Microbiome of Size-Fractionated Airborne Particles from the Sahara Region. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:1487-1496. [PMID: 33474936 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diverse airborne microbes affect human health and biodiversity, and the Sahara region of West Africa is a globally important source region for atmospheric dust. We collected size-fractionated (>10, 10-2.5, 2.5-1.0, 1.0-0.5, and <0.5 μm) atmospheric particles in Mali, West Africa and conducted the first cultivation-independent study of airborne microbes in this region using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Abundant and diverse microbes were detected in all particle size fractions at levels higher than those previously hypothesized for desert regions. Average daily abundance was 1.94 × 105 16S rRNA copies/m3. Daily patterns in abundance for particles <0.5 μm differed significantly from other size fractions likely because they form mainly in the atmosphere and have limited surface resuspension. Particles >10 μm contained the greatest fraction of daily abundance (51-62%) and had significantly greater diversity than smaller particles. Greater bacterial abundance of particles >2.5 μm that are bigger than the average bacterium suggests that most airborne bacteria are present as aggregates or attached to particles rather than as free-floating cells. Particles >10 μm have very short atmospheric lifetimes and thus tend to have more localized origins. We confirmed the presence of several potential pathogens using polymerase chain reaction that are candidates for viability and strain testing in future studies. These species were detected on all particle sizes tested, including particles <2.5 μm that are expected to undergo long-range transport. Overall, our results suggest that the composition and sources of airborne microbes can be better discriminated by collecting size-fractionated samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Stern
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Nagissa Mahmoudi
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E8, Canada
| | - Caroline O Buckee
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Amina T Schartup
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Stephen T Ferguson
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jack M Wolfson
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Steven C Wofsy
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Bruce C Daube
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Elsie M Sunderland
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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Haas D, Kriso A, Fritz T, Galler H, Habib J, Ilieva M, Kropsch M, Ofner-Kopeinig P, Stonitsch M, Strasser A, Zentner E, Reinthaler FF. Background Concentrations of Cultivable, Mesophilic Bacteria and Dust Particles in the Air in Urban, Rural and Mountain Regions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17249572. [PMID: 33371355 PMCID: PMC7767401 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Particulate air components can be of anthropogenic or natural origin. It is assumed that in different geographical areas varying concentrations of mesophilic bacteria are present in the ambient air. The aim of this study was to determine the background concentrations of airborne culturable mesophilic bacteria and particulate matter in the ambient air. Furthermore, the association between their concentrations and some environmental factors was analysed. In the period from July to October 2019, concentrations of mesophilic bacteria and dust particles were measured in urban, rural and mountain areas using the single-stage air sampler and the particle counter. The concentrations of bacteria and dust particles in the air were counted as number of Colony Forming Units per cubic metre (CFU/m3) and particles per cubic metre (pa/m3). Staphylococcus sp. were identified. The median values of the cultivated mesophilic bacteria at 30 °C and 37 °C were 7.1 × 102 CFU/m3 and 2.3 × 101 CFU/m3 in mountain regions, 1.3 × 102 CFU/m3 and 6.9 × 101 CFU/m3 in rural regions and 2.1 × 102 CFU/m3 and 6.5 × 101 CFU/m3 in urban regions. The median of Staphylococcus sp. was 2.5 × 100 CFU/m3 in alpine areas and 7.5 × 100 CFU/m3 in urban and rural areas. Higher bacterial concentrations were measured in sunshine and in windy weather. A relationship was observed between the concentrations of airborne mesophilic bacteria and the coarse particles in all three areas. The present study determined values between 5.0 × 100 and 4.6 × 102 CFU/m3 as natural background concentrations of airborne mesophilic bacteria and 1.2 × 107 pa/m3 and 6.5 × 104 pa/m3 for fine and coarse particles, respectively. These results can be proposed as baseline for the assessment of the emission sources of mesophilic bacteria for summer and early autumn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Haas
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Angela Kriso
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
| | - Theresa Fritz
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
| | - Herbert Galler
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
| | - Juliana Habib
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
| | - Mihaela Ilieva
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
| | - Michael Kropsch
- Agricultural Research and Education Center Raumberg Gumpenstein, 8952 Irdning, Austria; (M.K.); (E.Z.)
| | - Petra Ofner-Kopeinig
- Institute for Medical Informatics Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria;
| | - Martin Stonitsch
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
| | - Andreas Strasser
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
| | - Eduard Zentner
- Agricultural Research and Education Center Raumberg Gumpenstein, 8952 Irdning, Austria; (M.K.); (E.Z.)
| | - Franz F. Reinthaler
- D&R Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (A.K.); (T.F.); (H.G.); (J.H.); (M.I.); (M.S.); (A.S.); (F.F.R.)
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Woo C, Yamamoto N. Falling bacterial communities from the atmosphere. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2020; 15:22. [PMID: 33902752 PMCID: PMC8066439 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-020-00369-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacteria emitted into the atmosphere eventually settle to the pedosphere via sedimentation (dry deposition) or precipitation (wet deposition), constituting a part of the global cycling of substances on Earth, including the water cycle. In this study, we aim to investigate the taxonomic compositions and flux densities of bacterial deposition, for which little is known regarding the relative contributions of each mode of atmospheric deposition, the taxonomic structures and memberships, and the aerodynamic properties in the atmosphere. RESULTS Precipitation was found to dominate atmospheric bacterial deposition, contributing to 95% of the total flux density at our sampling site in Korea, while bacterial communities in precipitation were significantly different from those in sedimentation, in terms of both their structures and memberships. Large aerodynamic diameters of atmospheric bacteria were observed, with an annual mean of 8.84 μm, which appears to be related to their large sedimentation velocities, with an annual mean of 1.72 cm s- 1 for all bacterial taxa combined. The observed mean sedimentation velocity for atmospheric bacteria was larger than the previously reported mean sedimentation velocities for fungi and plants. CONCLUSIONS Large aerodynamic diameters of atmospheric bacteria, which are likely due to the aggregation and/or attachment to other larger particles, are thought to contribute to large sedimentation velocities, high efficiencies as cloud nuclei, and large amounts of precipitation of atmospheric bacteria. Moreover, the different microbiotas between precipitation and sedimentation might indicate specific bacterial involvement and/or selective bacterial growth in clouds. Overall, our findings add novel insight into how bacteria participate in atmospheric processes and material circulations, including hydrological circulation, on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheolwoon Woo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Naomichi Yamamoto
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Mestre M, Höfer J. The Microbial Conveyor Belt: Connecting the Globe through Dispersion and Dormancy. Trends Microbiol 2020; 29:482-492. [PMID: 33281016 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite the recent increase in knowledge concerning microorganisms, the processes determining their global distribution and functioning have not been disentangled. Microbial dormant stages are adapted to endure specific adverse conditions related to their dispersion path, suggesting that dispersion is not entirely a stochastic process. Long-term dormancy enhances microbial dispersion, promoting the ubiquity of microorganisms. The evidence leads us to propose that there is a global, recurrent, and spatially cyclical dispersion of microorganisms that we have called the Microbial Conveyor Belt. These dispersion cycles directly influence the distribution of microorganisms, the global cycling of inorganic and organic matter, and thus the Earth system's functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Mestre
- Centro de Investigación Oceanográfica COPAS Sur-Austral, Departamento de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Centro FONDAP de Investigación Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Valdivia, Chile.
| | - Juan Höfer
- Centro FONDAP de Investigación Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Valdivia, Chile; Escuela de Ciencias del Mar, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; Centro de Investigación y Formación San Ignacio de Huinay, Huinay, Chile.
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30
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Karimi H, Nikaeen M, Gholipour S, Hatamzadeh M, Hassanzadeh A, Hajizadeh Y. PM 2.5-associated bacteria in ambient air: Is PM 2.5 exposure associated with the acquisition of community-acquired staphylococcal infections? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2020; 18:1007-1013. [PMID: 33312619 PMCID: PMC7721920 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-020-00522-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM), a major component of air pollution, is an important carrier medium of various chemical and microbial compounds. Air pollution due to PM could increase the level of bacteria and associated adverse health effects. Staphylococci as important opportunistic pathogens that cause hospital- and community-acquired infections may transmit through air. This study aimed to obtain knowledge about the concentration of airborne bacteria as well as staphylococci associated with particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) in ambient air. The impact of meteorological factors including ultraviolet (UV) index, wind speed, temperature, and moisture on microbial concentrations was also investigated. Quartz filters were used to collect PM2.5 and associated bacteria in ambient air of a semiarid area. Airborne bacteria were quantified by culture method and Staphylococcus species identified by molecular methods. The mean (SD) concentration of PM2.5 and airborne bacteria was 64.83 (24.87) µg/m3 and 38 (36) colony forming unit (CFU)/m3, respectively. The results showed no significant correlation between the levels of PM2.5 and concentrations of bacteria (p < 0.05). Staphylococcus species were detected in 8 of 37 (22%) samples in a concentration from 3 to 213 CFU/m3. S. epidermidis was detected with the highest frequency followed by S. gallinarum and S. hominis, but S. aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were not detected. No significant correlation between the concentrations of bacteria with meteorological parameters was observed (p < 0.05). Our finding showed that, although the study area is sometimes subject to air pollution from PM2.5, the concentration of PM2.5- associated bacteria is relatively low. According to the results, PM2.5 may not be a source of community-associated staphylococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Karimi
- Student Research Committee and Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahnaz Nikaeen
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sahar Gholipour
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Maryam Hatamzadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Akbar Hassanzadeh
- Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Yaghoub Hajizadeh
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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31
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Al Salameen F, Habibi N, Uddin S, Al Mataqi K, Kumar V, Al Doaij B, Al Amad S, Al Ali E, Shirshikhar F. Spatio-temporal variations in bacterial and fungal community associated with dust aerosol in Kuwait. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241283. [PMID: 33151966 PMCID: PMC7644028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Kuwait is a country with a very high dust loading; in fact it bears the world's highest particulate matter concentration in the outdoor air. The airborne dust often has associated biological materials, including pathogenic microbes that pose a serious risk to the urban ecosystem and public health. This study has established the baseline taxonomic characterization of microbes associated with dust transported into Kuwait from different trajectories. A high volume air sampler with six-stage cascade impactor was deployed for sample collection at a remote as well as an urban site. Samples from three different seasons (autumn, spring and summer) were subjected to targeted amplicon sequencing. A set of ~ 50 and 60 bacterial and fungal genera, respectively, established the core air microbiome. The predominant bacterial genera (relative abundance ≥ 1%) were Brevundimonas (12.5%), Sphingobium (3.3%), Sphingopyxis (2.7%), Pseudomonas (2.5%), Sphingomonas (2.4%), Massilia (2.3%), Acidovorax (2.0%), Allorhizobium (1.8%), Halomonas (1.3%), and Mesorhizobium (1.1%), and the fungal taxa were Cryptococcus (12%) followed by Alternaria (9%), Aspergillus (7%), Candida (3%), Cladosporium (2.9%), Schizophyllum (1.6%), Fusarium (1.4%), Gleotinia (1.3%) and Penicillium (1.15%). Significant spatio-temporal variations were recorded in terms of relative abundances, α-diversities, and β-diversities of bacterial communities. The dissimilarities were less pronounced and instead the communities were fairly homogenous. Linear discrimant analysis revealed three fungal genera known to be significantly differentially abundant with respect to different size fractions of dust. Our results shed light on the spatio-temporal distribution of airborne microbes and their implications in general health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadila Al Salameen
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
- * E-mail: (FAS); (NH)
| | - Nazima Habibi
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
- * E-mail: (FAS); (NH)
| | - Saif Uddin
- Environment and Climate Change Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Khalil Al Mataqi
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Bashayer Al Doaij
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Sami Al Amad
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Ebtisam Al Ali
- Biotechnology Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Faiz Shirshikhar
- Environment and Climate Change Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
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Abiye OE, Matthew OJ, Rabiu AB, Ezeh GC, Akinola OE, Gerelmaa G, Ugwumadu CE, Latif MB. Chemical footprints of harmattan dust and traffic corridor particulates monitored at two environmentally distinct geopolitical zones in Nigeria. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:39317-39329. [PMID: 32642902 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Harmattan dust and traffic-related pollution have been a serious environmental concern in the West African sub-region. In order to further contribute to the understanding of ambient levels of atmospheric pollution and chemical composition in the region, this study monitored harmattan dust and traffic-related particulate matter at four locations across southwestern (Ile-Ife) and north-western (Zaria) geo-political zones of Nigeria. The collected samples were characterized for their chemical composition using Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer equipped with an optimized secondary target x-ray excitation conditions (Al, CaF2, Fe, Ge, Zr, Mo, Ag, Al2O3). The objectives are to assess spatio-temporal mass concentrations, chemical footprints, enrichment factors, elemental correlations, and ratios at all locations. The X-ray analytical method was validated with a NIST SRM 2783 air particulate standard, and detection limits for each chemical specie were determined. Validation results showed good reproducibility of the certified reference material with relative standard deviations of the elements much lower by about 1-13% than the corresponding reference values. Mass concentrations reached up to 2200 μgm-3 in the north and 1500 μgm-3 in the south. The range of mean concentration of crustal marker elements were Al (5-27 μgm-3), Si (5-856 μgm-3), Ca (0.78-13 μgm-3), and Fe (2-13 μgm-3), and were most abundant during the harmattan particularly in the southwestern region. Highest mean concentration values of 380, 810, and 420 ngm-3 were recorded for Cr, Cu, and Pb respectively at the traffic corridor which also recorded the highest enrichment factors. Black carbon and elemental concentrations contributed between 1 to 54% and 9 to 94% across the locations respectively. Backward trajectories of atmospheric flow over the locations showed two dominant sources; dust laden source from the Sahara desert and maritime flow over the Gulf of Guinea. This study found that chemical footprints (Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, and Fe) of harmattan-related dust were more correlated (r2 between 0.88 and 0.99) than those attributed to dust re-suspension at the traffic location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olawale E Abiye
- Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
| | - Olaniran J Matthew
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Akeem B Rabiu
- Centre for Atmospheric Research, Kogi State University Campus, Anyigba, Nigeria
| | - Godwin C Ezeh
- Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Oluseyi E Akinola
- Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | | | - Chinonso E Ugwumadu
- Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Moufthou B Latif
- Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
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33
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Evidence for signatures of ancient microbial life in paleosols. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16830. [PMID: 33033361 PMCID: PMC7545160 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73938-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Loess-paleosol sequences are terrestrial archives of past climate change. They may host traces of ancient microbial life, but little information is available on the recovery of microbial biomarkers from such deposits. We hypothesized that microbial communities in soil horizons up to an age of 127 kyr carry information related to past environments. We extracted DNA from a loess-paleosol sequence near Toshan, Northern Iran, with 26 m thick deposits showing different degrees of soil development, performed quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Periods of soil formation archived within the loess sediment led to higher diversity and bacterial abundance in the paleosol horizons. Community composition fluctuated over the loess-paleosol sequence and was mainly correlated with age and depth, (ADONIS R2 < 0.14, P ≤ 0.002), while responses to paleosol soil traits were weaker. Phyla like Bacteriodetes, Proteobacteria or Acidobacteria were more prevalent in paleosol horizons characterized by intense soil formation, while weakly developed paleosols or loess horizons hosted a higher percentage and diversity of Actinobacteria. Taken together, our findings indicate that the microbial community in loess-paleosol sequences carries signatures of earlier environmental conditions that are preserved until today.
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Detection of Airborne Biological Particles in Indoor Air Using a Real-Time Advanced Morphological Parameter UV-LIF Spectrometer and Gradient Boosting Ensemble Decision Tree Classifiers. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11101039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We present results from a study evaluating the utility of supervised machine learning to classify single particle ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) signatures to investigate airborne primary biological aerosol particle (PBAP) concentrations in a busy, multifunctional building using a Multiparameter Bioaerosol Spectrometer. First we introduce and demonstrate a gradient boosting ensemble decision tree algorithm’s ability to accurately classify laboratory generated PBAP samples into broad taxonomic classes with a high level of accuracy. We then develop a framework to appraise the classification accuracy and performance using the Hellinger distance metric to compare product parameter probability density function similarity; this framework showed that key training classes were sufficiently different in terms of particle fluorescence and morphology to facilitate classification. We also demonstrate the utility of including advanced morphological parameters to minimise inter-class conflation and improve classification confidence, where relying on the fluorescent spectra alone would likely result in misattribution. Finally, we apply these methods to ambient data collected within a large multi-functional building where ambient bacterial- and fungal-like classes were identified to display trends corresponding to human activity; fungal-like classes displayed a consistent diurnal trend with a maximum at midday and hourly peaks correlating to movements within the building; bacteria-like aerosol displayed complex, episodic events during opening hours. All PBAP classes fell to low baseline concentrations when the building was unoccupied overnight and at weekends.
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35
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Respiratory Health after Military Service in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020; 16:e1-e16. [PMID: 31368802 PMCID: PMC6774741 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201904-344ws] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2001, more than 2.7 million U.S. military personnel have been deployed in support of operations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. Land-based personnel experienced elevated exposures to particulate matter and other inhalational exposures from multiple sources, including desert dust, burn pit combustion, and other industrial, mobile, or military sources. A workshop conducted at the 2018 American Thoracic Society International Conference had the goals of: 1) identifying key studies assessing postdeployment respiratory health, 2) describing emerging research, and 3) highlighting knowledge gaps. The workshop reviewed epidemiologic studies that demonstrated more frequent encounters for respiratory symptoms postdeployment compared with nondeployers and for airway disease, predominantly asthma, as well as case series describing postdeployment dyspnea, asthma, and a range of other respiratory tract findings. On the basis of particulate matter effects in other populations, it also is possible that deployers experienced reductions in pulmonary function as a result of such exposure. The workshop also gave particular attention to constrictive bronchiolitis, which has been reported in lung biopsies of selected deployers. Workshop participants had heterogeneous views regarding the definition and frequency of constrictive bronchiolitis and other small airway pathologic findings in deployed populations. The workshop concluded that the relationship of airway disease, including constrictive bronchiolitis, to exposures experienced during deployment remains to be better defined. Future clinical and epidemiologic research efforts should address better characterization of deployment exposures; carry out longitudinal assessment of potentially related adverse health conditions, including lung function and other physiologic changes; and use rigorous histologic, exposure, and clinical characterization of patients with respiratory tract abnormalities.
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Distribution of Viable Bacteria in the Dust-Generating Natural Source Area of the Gobi Region, Mongolia. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11090893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Gobi Desert is a major source of dust events, whose frequency of occurrence and damage caused have recently significantly increased. In the present study, we investigated the types of live bacteria present in the surface soil of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, and determined their genetic identification as well as their geographical distribution. During the survey, four different topographies (dry lake bed, wadi, well, and desert steppe) were selected, and land characteristics were monitored for moisture and temperature. The surface soil was aerobically cultured to isolate bacterial colonies, and their 16s rDNA regions were sequenced. The sequence data were identified through NCBI-BLAST analysis and generated phylogenetic trees. The results revealed two phyla and seven families of isolates from the sample points. Each isolate was characterized by their corresponding sample site. The characteristics of land use and soil surface bacteria were compared. Most of the bacteria originated from the soil, however, animal-derived bacteria were also confirmed in areas used by animals. Our findings confirmed the existence of live bacteria in the dust-generating area, suggesting that their presence could affect animal and human health. Therefore, it is necessary to further investigate dust microbes based on the One Health concept.
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Zhao Y, Chen Z, Hou J, Mao D, Lin H, Xue Y, Luo Y. Monitoring antibiotic resistomes and bacterial microbiomes in the aerosols from fine, hazy, and dusty weather in Tianjin, China using a developed high-volume tandem liquid impinging sampler. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 731:139242. [PMID: 32438084 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Accurate quantification of the airborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is critically important to assess their health risks. However, the currently widely used high-volume filter sampler (HVFS) often causes the desiccation of the sample, interfering with subsequent bacterial culture. To overcome this limitation, a high-volume tandem liquid impinging sampler (HVTLIS) was developed and optimized to investigate the airborne bacterial microbiomes and antibiotic resistomes under different weathers in Tianjin, China. Results revealed that HVTLIS can capture significantly more diverse culturable bacteria, ARB, and ARGs than HVFS. Compared with fine and hazy weathers, dusty weather had significantly more diverse and abundant airborne bacteria, ARGs, and human opportunistic pathogens with the resistance to last-resort antibiotics of carbapenems and polymyxin B, implicating a potential human health threat of dusty bioaerosols. Intriguingly, we represented the first report of Saccharibacteria predominance in the bioaerosol, demonstrating that the potential advantage of HVTLIS in collecting airborne microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Zhao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zeyou Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jie Hou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Daqing Mao
- Medical College, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Huai Lin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yingang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection of Water Environment Biological Monitoring of Jiangsu Province, Changzhou Environmental Monitoring Center, Changzhou 213001, China
| | - Yi Luo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
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38
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Romano S, Becagli S, Lucarelli F, Rispoli G, Perrone MR. Airborne bacteria structure and chemical composition relationships in winter and spring PM10 samples over southeastern Italy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 730:138899. [PMID: 32388366 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Redundancy Discrimination Analysis (RDA) and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to investigate relationships between airborne bacteria at the phylum and genus level and chemical species in winter and spring PM10 samples over Southeastern Italy. The identification of main chemical species/pollution sources that were related to and likely affected the bacterial community structure was the main goal of this work. The 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach was used to characterize airborne bacteria. Seventeen phyla and seventy-nine genera contributing each by mean within-sample relative abundance percentage > 0.01% were identified in PM10 samples, which were chemically characterized for 33 species, including ions, metals, OC, and EC (organic and elemental carbon, respectively). Chemical species were associated with six different pollution sources. A shift from winter to spring in both bacterial community structure and chemical species mass concentrations/sources and the relationships between them was observed. RDA triplots pointed out significant correlations for all tested bacterial phyla (genera) with other phyla (genera) and/or with chemical species, in contrast to correlation coefficient results, which showed that few phyla (genera) were significantly correlated with chemical species. More specifically, in winter Bacillus and Chryseobacterium were the only genera significantly correlated with chemical species likely associated with particles from soil-dust and anthropogenic pollution source, respectively. In spring, Enterobacter and Sphingomonas were the only genera significantly correlated with chemical species likely associated with particles from the anthropogenic pollution and the marine and soil-dust sources, respectively. The results of this study also showed that the correlation coefficients were the best tool to obtain unequivocal identifications of the correlations of phyla (genera) with chemical species. The seasonal changes of the PM10 chemical composition, the microbial community structure, and their relationships suggested that the seasonal changes of atmospheric particles may have likely contributed to seasonal changes of bacterial community in the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Romano
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, Via per Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - S Becagli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - F Lucarelli
- Department of Physics, University of Florence and I.N.F.N. (Unit of Florence), Via Sansone, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - G Rispoli
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, Via per Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - M R Perrone
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, Via per Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
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39
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Hu Z, Liu H, Zhang H, Zhang X, Zhou M, Lou L, Zheng P, Xi C, Hu B. Temporal discrepancy of airborne total bacteria and pathogenic bacteria between day and night. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 186:109540. [PMID: 32339956 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
As the most abundant microbes in the atmosphere, airborne bacteria are closely involved in affecting human health, regional climate and ecological balance. The mobility of airborne microorganisms makes it necessary to study the community dynamic in short cycle. Nevertheless, it remains obscure how the airborne bacteria especially the pathogenic bacteria vary on the small time scale of day and night. To investigate the nycterohemeral discrepancy of airborne total bacteria and pathogenic bacteria, PM2.5 samples were collected in Hangzhou between day and night. Microbial taxonomic information was obtained through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and "human pathogens database" screening. Further analyses based on Multiple Regression Matrices (MRM) approach and Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) model were conducted to elucidate the effect of local environmental factors and long-range transport. The community composition of total bacteria tended to be similar in the daytime while pathogenic bacteria turned out to be homogeneous in the nighttime. To be vigilant, the diversity of airborne pathogenic bacteria echoed the frequency of anthropogenic activities with the pathogen inhalation rate roughly at 428 copies/h and 235 copies/h respectively in daytime and nighttime. The nycterohemeral discrepancy of total bacteria was principally driven by the filtering of environmental factors, i.e., CO and NO2, indicating that anthropogenic activities brought about the homogeneity. Airborne pathogenic bacteria coupled with the strong resistances of environmental filtering stood out from their non-pathogenic counterpart, which enabled the long-range transport. Indeed, the nycterohemeral discrepancy of pathogenic bacteria was shaped by the transport of air masses. This research filled the gaps in temporal variance of airborne microorganisms on the small time scale of day and night, providing crucial foundation for precisely predicting ecological and health effects of bioaerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Hu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Meng Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Liping Lou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chuanwu Xi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Baolan Hu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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40
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González-Toril E, Osuna S, Viúdez-Moreiras D, Navarro-Cid I, Toro SDD, Sor S, Bardera R, Puente-Sánchez F, de Diego-Castilla G, Aguilera Á. Impacts of Saharan Dust Intrusions on Bacterial Communities of the Low Troposphere. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6837. [PMID: 32321958 PMCID: PMC7176723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63797-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We have analyzed the bacterial community of a large Saharan dust event in the Iberian Peninsula and, for the first time, we offer new insights regarding the bacterial distribution at different altitudes of the lower troposphere and the replacement of the microbial airborne structure as the dust event receeds. Samples from different open-air altitudes (surface, 100 m and 3 km), were obtained onboard the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) C-212 aircrafts. Samples were collected during dust and dust-free air masses as well two weeks after the dust event. Samples related in height or time scale seems to show more similar community composition patterns compared with unrelated samples. The most abundant bacterial species during the dust event, grouped in three different phyla: (a) Proteobacteria: Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales, Rhodobacterales, (b) Actinobacteria: Geodermatophilaceae; (c) Firmicutes: Bacillaceae. Most of these taxa are well known for being extremely stress-resistant. After the dust intrusion, Rhizobium was the most abundant genus, (40-90% total sequences). Samples taken during the flights carried out 15 days after the dust event were much more similar to the dust event samples compared with the remaining samples. In this case, Brevundimonas, and Methylobacterium as well as Cupriavidus and Mesorizobium were the most abundant genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena González-Toril
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Osuna
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivan Navarro-Cid
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Díaz Del Toro
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology. Biology Faculty. C/José Antonio Novais, 12, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Suthyvann Sor
- Aerodinamic Department (INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Bardera
- Aerodinamic Department (INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Puente-Sánchez
- Systems Biology Program. Centro Nacional de Biotecnología. C/ Darwin n° 3, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ángeles Aguilera
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA). Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain.
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41
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Liu M, Nobu MK, Ren J, Jin X, Hong G, Yao H. Bacterial compositions in inhalable particulate matters from indoor and outdoor wastewater treatment processes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 385:121515. [PMID: 31718810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment systems are critical microbial sources for urban air and play important roles in public health. In this study, bacterial communities in particulate matters (PM2.5, PM10) from wastewater/sludge treatment facilities of two full-scale wastewater treatment plants were analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Compared to the background ambient air, Campylobacteriadeceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Chlostridiaceae were the most enriched bacteria above wastewater treatment facilities. In sludge dewatering facilities, Comamonadaceae, Chitinophagaceae, Caldilineaceae, Mycobacteriaceae, Methylocystaceae, Microbacteriaceae, Cryomorphaceae, and uncultured Class OPB56 were the most enriched. The dynamic bacterial compositions in aerosols were contributed by aerosolization and dispersion. Principal coordinate analysis and clustering analysis showed that the aerosol bacterial community from indoor sludge treatment were closely clustered with that of sludge, indicating that aerosolization dominated the indoor environments. In contrast, aerosols from outdoor wastewater treatment facilities clustered with background ambient aerosols, indicating that outdoor aerosol bacterial communities were mainly governed by dispersion. Aerosolization factor (the ratio of bacteria abundance in aerosols to those in wastewater/sludge) was used to evaluate the aerosolization potential and survival of bacteria. Rhodocyclaceae, Arcobacter, Comamonadaceae, Mycobacterium, and Citrobacter were not only preferentially aerosolized from wastewater/sludge, but also sustainable during dispersion in ambient air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Liu
- Beijing International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Water Pollution Control Techniques for Antibiotics and Resistance Genes, School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China.; Department of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaru K Nobu
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Jia Ren
- Beijing International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Water Pollution Control Techniques for Antibiotics and Resistance Genes, School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowei Jin
- China National Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Gang Hong
- Shijiazhuang Environmental Monitoring Station, Hebei Province, China
| | - Hong Yao
- Beijing International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Water Pollution Control Techniques for Antibiotics and Resistance Genes, School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China..
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42
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Linares C, Díaz J, Negev M, Martínez GS, Debono R, Paz S. Impacts of climate change on the public health of the Mediterranean Basin population - Current situation, projections, preparedness and adaptation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109107. [PMID: 32069750 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean Basin is undergoing a warming trend with longer and warmer summers, an increase in the frequency and the severity of heat waves, changes in precipitation patterns and a reduction in rainfall amounts. In this unique populated region, which is characterized by significant gaps in the socio-economic levels particularly between the North (Europe) and South (Africa), parallel with population growth and migration, increased water demand and forest fires risk - the vulnerability of the Mediterranean population to human health risks increases significantly. Indeed, climatic changes impact the health of the Mediterranean population directly through extreme heat, drought or storms, or indirectly by changes in water availability, food provision and quality, air pollution and other stressors. The main health effects are related to extreme weather events (including extreme temperatures and floods), changes in the distribution of climate-sensitive diseases and changes in environmental and social conditions. The poorer countries, particularly in North Africa and the Levant, are at highest risk. Climate change affects the vulnerable sectors of the region, including an increasingly older population, with a larger percentage of those with chronic diseases, as well as poor people, which are therefore more susceptible to the effects of extreme temperatures. For those populations, a better surveillance and control systems are especially needed. In view of the climatic projections and the vulnerability of Mediterranean countries, climate change mitigation and adaptation become ever more imperative. It is important that prevention Health Action Plans will be implemented, particularly in those countries that currently have no prevention plans. Most adaptation measures are "win-win situation" from a health perspective, including reducing air pollution or providing shading solutions. Additionally, Mediterranean countries need to enhance cross-border collaboration, as adaptation to many of the health risks requires collaboration across borders and also across the different parts of the basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health. Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health. Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maya Negev
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Shlomit Paz
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Israel.
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Amarloei A, Fazlzadeh M, Jafari AJ, Zarei A, Mazloomi S. Particulate matters and bioaerosols during Middle East dust storms events in Ilam, Iran. Microchem J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.104280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Bruni E, Simonetti G, Bovone B, Casagrande C, Castellani F, Riccardi C, Pomata D, Di Filippo P, Federici E, Buiarelli F, Uccelletti D. Evaluation of Bioaerosol Bacterial Components of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Through an Integrate Approach and In Vivo Assessment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 17:ijerph17010273. [PMID: 31906026 PMCID: PMC6981557 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater carries different pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms that can be dispersed in the surrounding environment. Workers who frequent sewage treatment plants can therefore be exposed to aerosols that contain a high concentration of potentially dangerous biological agents, or they can come into direct contact with contaminated material. This can lead to allergies, infections and occupational health-associated diseases. A characterization of biological risk assessment of bioaerosol exposure is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of an interdisciplinary method that combines chemical and biological approaches for the analysis of a bioaerosol derived from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) situated in Italy. Sampled filters were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS spectroscopy that searched for different chemical biomarkers of airborne microorganisms. The analytical quantification was compared to the biological cultural method that revealed an underrated microbial concentration. Furthermore, next generation sequencing analysis was used also to identify the uncultivable species that were not detected by the culture dependent-method. Moreover, the simple animal model Caenorhabditis elegans was used to evaluate the pathogenicity of two isolates—Acinetobacter iwoffii and Micrococcus luteus—that showed multidrug-resistance. This work represents a starting point for the development of a multidisciplinary approach for the validation of bioaerosol exposure on WWTP workplaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Bruni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Giulia Simonetti
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
| | - Beatrice Bovone
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Chiara Casagrande
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (C.C.); (E.F.)
| | - Federica Castellani
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
| | - Carmela Riccardi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
- Inail DIT, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Pomata
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
- Inail DIT, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Di Filippo
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
- Inail DIT, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (C.C.); (E.F.)
| | - Francesca Buiarelli
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (D.P.); (P.D.F.); (F.B.)
| | - Daniela Uccelletti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.B.); (B.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Romano S, Di Salvo M, Rispoli G, Alifano P, Perrone MR, Talà A. Airborne bacteria in the Central Mediterranean: Structure and role of meteorology and air mass transport. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 697:134020. [PMID: 31491629 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach has been used to characterize the structure of the airborne bacterial community of PM10 samples, and investigate the dependence on meteorology, seasons, and long-range transported air masses. The PM10 samples were collected at a Central Mediterranean coastal site, away from large sources of local pollution. Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, which were found in all samples, were the most abundant phyla. Calothrix, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus were the most abundant genera. The within-sample relative abundance (RA) of each phylum/genus varied from sample to sample. Calothrix was the most abundant genus during the advection of desert dust and Atlantic air masses, Pseudomonas was the most abundant genus when the advected air flows spent several hours over lands or close to lands affected by anthropogenic activities, before reaching the study site. The bacterial community richness and biodiversity of the PM10 samples on average increased from winter to spring, while the sample dissimilarity on average decreased from winter to spring. The spring meteorological conditions over the Mediterranean, which have likely contributed to maintain for longer time the bacterial community in the atmosphere, could have been responsible for the above results. The analysis of the presumptive species-level characterization of the airborne bacterial community has revealed that the abundance of human (opportunistic) pathogens was highly inhomogeneous among samples, without any significant change from winter to spring. We also found that the PM10 samples collected during the advection of desert dust and Atlantic air masses were on average the less enriched in human (opportunistic) pathogenic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Romano
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, via per Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Marco Di Salvo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Gennaro Rispoli
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, via per Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Pietro Alifano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Perrone
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, via per Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Adelfia Talà
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
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Richardson SC, Mytilinaios M, Foskinis R, Kyrou C, Papayannis A, Pyrri I, Giannoutsou E, Adamakis IDS. Bioaerosol detection over Athens, Greece using the laser induced fluorescence technique. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 696:133906. [PMID: 31442725 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The challenge in today's bioaerosol monitoring is to retrieve real-time information on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the ambient air in bioparticles implicated to human health. A pilot study was conducted during March-May 2018 in Athens, Greece in order to detect bioparticles within the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) by implementing the LIF LiDAR (Laser-Induced Fluorescence Light Detection and Ranging) technique at an excitation wavelength of 266 nm in order to determine the major components' contribution on the total fluorescence LiDAR signals aloft (30-100 m above our site). The laboratory characterization of the prevalent pollen grains and fungal spores fluorescence signatures enabled through deconvolution the breaking down of the retrieved LIF LiDAR signals and unravelled each bioparticle's contribution. The bioaerosol occurrence and concentration, as determined by the concurrent sampling with a volumetric particle sampler, verified that the detected fluorescence is related to the fungal and pollen aerosol concentration. The results of this study are very promising for the implementation of remote sensing technology in routine detection and quantification of airborne bioparticles in real-time which is important for allergy sufferers and physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Richardson
- Laser Remote Sensing Unit (LRSU), Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece
| | - M Mytilinaios
- Laser Remote Sensing Unit (LRSU), Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale (CNR-IMAA), C.da S. Loja, Tito Scalo, PZ 85050, Italy
| | - R Foskinis
- Laser Remote Sensing Unit (LRSU), Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece
| | - C Kyrou
- Faculty of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli, Zografos, Athens 15784, Greece
| | - A Papayannis
- Laser Remote Sensing Unit (LRSU), Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece.
| | - I Pyrri
- Section of Ecology and Systematics, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - E Giannoutsou
- Section of Botany, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - I D S Adamakis
- Section of Botany, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli, 15784 Athens, Greece
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Intercomparison of Multiple UV-LIF Spectrometers Using the Aerosol Challenge Simulator. ATMOSPHERE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos10120797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Measurements of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) have been conducted worldwide using ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) spectrometers. However, how these instruments detect and respond to known biological and non-biological particles, and how they compare, remains uncertain due to limited laboratory intercomparisons. Using the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Aerosol Challenge Simulator (ACS), controlled concentrations of biological and non-biological aerosol particles, singly or as mixtures, were produced for testing and intercomparison of multiple versions of the Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Spectrometer (WIBS) and Multiparameter Bioaerosol Spectrometer (MBS). Although the results suggest some challenges in discriminating biological particle types across different versions of the same UV-LIF instrument, a difference in fluorescence intensity between the non-biological and biological samples could be identified for most instruments. While lower concentrations of fluorescent particles were detected by the MBS, the MBS demonstrates the potential to discriminate between pollen and other biological particles. This study presents the first published technical summary and use of the ACS for instrument intercomparisons. Within this work a clear overview of the data pre-processing is also presented, and documentation of instrument version/model numbers is suggested to assess potential instrument variations between different versions of the same instrument. Further laboratory studies sampling different particle types are suggested before use in quantifying impact on ambient classification.
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Wiśniewska K, Lewandowska AU, Śliwińska-Wilczewska S. The importance of cyanobacteria and microalgae present in aerosols to human health and the environment - Review study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104964. [PMID: 31351382 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Airborne microalgae and cyanobacteria are among the least studied organisms in aerobiology. While those of them living in freshwater and seawater are well recognized, those constituting the components of aerosols are rarely the focus of research. However, their presence has been noted by scientists from all over the world. The presence of these organisms is not indifferent to the environment as they participate in the formation of clouds and influence both the hydrological cycle and Earth's climate. Recent studies have concentrated mostly on the negative impact of airborne cyanobacteria and microalgae, as well as the toxic compounds they produce, on human health. This review focuses on measurement results published on those bioaerosols, combining the achievements of scientists from the last century with the latest reports and trends. Within it gaps in current knowledge are discussed, including the role of airborne organisms in the transport of harmful chemicals like PAHs and heavy metals. The current studies on which it is based emphasize the advantages and disadvantages of the measurement methods used in sampling and analysing. It also visualizes, in the form of maps, where research on bioaerosols has so far been conducted, while at the same time determining the share of organisms potentially dangerous to human health. In addition, we have also tried to recommend future research directions for both environmental and laboratory-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Wiśniewska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Division of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Av. M. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - A U Lewandowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Division of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Av. M. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - S Śliwińska-Wilczewska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Division of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Al. M. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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49
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Querol X, Tobías A, Pérez N, Karanasiou A, Amato F, Stafoggia M, Pérez García-Pando C, Ginoux P, Forastiere F, Gumy S, Mudu P, Alastuey A. Monitoring the impact of desert dust outbreaks for air quality for health studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 130:104867. [PMID: 31207476 PMCID: PMC6686079 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
We review the major features of desert dust outbreaks that are relevant to the assessment of dust impacts upon human health. Our ultimate goal is to provide scientific guidance for the acquisition of relevant population exposure information for epidemiological studies tackling the short and long term health effects of desert dust. We first describe the source regions and the typical levels of dust particles in regions close and far away from the source areas, along with their size, composition, and bio-aerosol load. We then describe the processes by which dust may become mixed with anthropogenic particulate matter (PM) and/or alter its load in receptor areas. Short term health effects are found during desert dust episodes in different regions of the world, but in a number of cases the results differ when it comes to associate the effects to the bulk PM, the desert dust-PM, or non-desert dust-PM. These differences are likely due to the different monitoring strategies applied in the epidemiological studies, and to the differences on atmospheric and emission (natural and anthropogenic) patterns of desert dust around the world. We finally propose methods to allow the discrimination of health effects by PM fraction during dust outbreaks, and a strategy to implement desert dust alert and monitoring systems for health studies and air quality management.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - A Tobías
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - N Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Karanasiou
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Amato
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | | | - P Ginoux
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Princeton, USA
| | - F Forastiere
- Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - S Gumy
- Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - P Mudu
- Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
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50
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Fan C, Li Y, Liu P, Mu F, Xie Z, Lu R, Qi Y, Wang B, Jin C. Characteristics of airborne opportunistic pathogenic bacteria during autumn and winter in Xi'an, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 672:834-845. [PMID: 30978545 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria are ubiquitous throughout the earth's lower atmosphere. Bacteria, especially pathogenic bacteria, play an important role in human health. The diversity, composition, and dynamics of airborne bacteria has been widely studied; however, the characteristics of pathogenic bacteria remain poorly understood. In this study, a high throughput sequencing method was used to explore the airborne opportunistic pathogenic bacteria during autumn and winter in Xi'an, China. An aggregated boosted tree (ABT) was developed to determine the relative influence of environmental factors on the proportions of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. Results showed that significantly more opportunistic pathogenic bacteria were found in winter than in autumn, and more opportunistic pathogenic bacteria were found in fine particulate matters (<2.5 μm) than in PM10 (<10 μm). However, the composition of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria varied in autumn and winter. PM was the main factor affecting the proportions of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, and air contaminants (PM, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone) influenced the proportion of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria more than meteorological factors (relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed). Different factors may be responsible for the variances in opportunistic pathogenic bacterial communities in different seasons. This study may provide a reference to support the control of pathogenic bacteria in urban environments during haze events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlan Fan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Yanpeng Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecology in Arid Areas, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710054, PR China.
| | - Pengxia Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Feifei Mu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Zhengsheng Xie
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Rui Lu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Yuzhen Qi
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- School of Architecture, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
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