1
|
Wang Y, Wang W, Yu X, Wang Z, Zhou Z, Han Y, Li L. Global diversity of airborne pathogenic bacteria and fungi from wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 258:121764. [PMID: 38761593 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121764] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been recognized as one of the major potential sources of the spread of airborne pathogenic microorganisms under the global pandemic of COVID-19. The differences in research regions, wastewater treatment processes, environmental conditions, and other aspects in the existing case studies have caused some confusion in the understanding of bioaerosol pollution characteristics. In this study, we integrated and analyzed data from field sampling and performed a systematic literature search to determine the abundance of airborne microorganisms in 13 countries and 37 cities across four continents (Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa). We analyzed the concentrations of bioaerosols, the core composition, global diversity, determinants, and potential risks of airborne pathogen communities in WWTPs. Our findings showed that the culturable bioaerosol concentrations of global WWTPs are 102-105 CFU/m3. Three core bacterial pathogens, namely Bacillus, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas, as well as two core fungal pathogens, Cladosporium and Aspergillus, were identified in the air across global WWTPs. WWTPs have unique core pathogenic communities and distinct continental divergence. The sources of airborne microorganisms (wastewater) and environmental variables (relative humidity and air contaminants) have impacts on the distribution of airborne pathogens. Potential health risks are associated with the core airborne pathogens in WWTPs. Our study showed the specificity, multifactorial influences, and potential pathogenicity of airborne pathogenic communities in WWTPs. Our findings can improve the understanding of the global diversity and biogeography of airborne pathogens in WWTPs, guiding risk assessment and control strategies for such pathogens. Furthermore, they provide a theoretical basis for safeguarding the health of WWTP workers and ensuring regional ecological security.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Xuezheng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, College of Energy and Power Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, PR China
| | - Zixuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, College of Energy and Power Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, PR China
| | - Ziyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, College of Energy and Power Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, PR China
| | - Yunping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Al Hallak M, Verdier T, Bertron A, Roques C, Bailly JD. Fungal Contamination of Building Materials and the Aerosolization of Particles and Toxins in Indoor Air and Their Associated Risks to Health: A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030175. [PMID: 36977066 PMCID: PMC10054896 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
It is now well established that biological pollution is a major cause of the degradation of indoor air quality. It has been shown that microbial communities from the outdoors may significantly impact the communities detected indoors. One can reasonably assume that the fungal contamination of the surfaces of building materials and their release into indoor air may also significantly impact indoor air quality. Fungi are well known as common contaminants of the indoor environment with the ability to grow on many types of building materials and to subsequently release biological particles into the indoor air. The aerosolization of allergenic compounds or mycotoxins borne by fungal particles or vehiculated by dust may have a direct impact on the occupant’s health. However, to date, very few studies have investigated such an impact. The present paper reviewed the available data on indoor fungal contamination in different types of buildings with the aim of highlighting the direct connections between the growth on indoor building materials and the degradation of indoor air quality through the aerosolization of mycotoxins. Some studies showed that average airborne fungal spore concentrations were higher in buildings where mould was a contaminant than in normal buildings and that there was a strong association between fungal contamination and health problems for occupants. In addition, the most frequent fungal species on surfaces are also those most commonly identified in indoor air, regardless the geographical location in Europe or the USA. Some fungal species contaminating the indoors may be dangerous for human health as they produce mycotoxins. These contaminants, when aerosolized with fungal particles, can be inhaled and may endanger human health. However, it appears that more work is needed to characterize the direct impact of surface contamination on the airborne fungal particle concentration. In addition, fungal species growing in buildings and their known mycotoxins are different from those contaminating foods. This is why further in situ studies to identify fungal contaminants at the species level and to quantify their average concentration on both surfaces and in the air are needed to be better predict health risks due to mycotoxin aerosolization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Al Hallak
- Laboratoire Matériaux et Durabilité des Constructions (LMDC), INSA Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas Verdier
- Laboratoire Matériaux et Durabilité des Constructions (LMDC), INSA Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandra Bertron
- Laboratoire Matériaux et Durabilité des Constructions (LMDC), INSA Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Christine Roques
- Laboratoire Génie Chimique (LGC), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 35 Chemin des Maraîchers, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Denis Bailly
- École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076 Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-industrielle (LCA), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, INPT, 4 Allées Emile Monso, 31030 Toulouse, France
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Felgueiras F, Mourão Z, Oliveira Fernandes ED, Gabriel MF. Airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations and fungal diversity in bedrooms of infant twins under 1 year of age living in Porto. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 206:112568. [PMID: 34932978 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112568] [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: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to airborne microorganisms has been linked to the development of health detriments, particularly in children. Microbial pollution can constitute a relevant health concern indoors, where levels of airborne microorganisms may be specially increased. This work aimed to characterize the airborne bacterial levels, and fungal concentration and diversity to which twins are exposed in their bedrooms (n = 30) during the first year of life. Bacterial and fungal levels varied widely across the studied bedrooms, with 10% of the rooms presenting values exceeding the national limit for both indoor bacterial and fungal counts. Cladosporium was the predominant genera, but Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Trichoderma and Chrysonilia were also identified in the samples collected. In addition, two toxicogenic species, A. flavus and T. viride, were identified at counts that exceeded the established limit (12 CFU/m3) in 3 and 7% of the bedrooms surveyed, respectively. Based on indoor-to-outdoor concentration ratios, outdoor air seemed to be the main contributor to the total load of fungi found indoors, while airborne bacteria appeared to be mainly linked to indoor sources. Higher indoor nitrogen dioxide levels were negatively correlated with indoor fungi concentrations, whereas particulate matter and volatile organic compounds concentrations were associated with an increase in fungal prevalence. In addition, rooms with small carpets or located near outdoor agriculture sources presented significantly greater total fungal concentrations. Multiple linear regression models showed that outdoor levels were the single significant predictor identified, explaining 38.6 and 53.6% of the Cladosporium sp. and total fungi counts, respectively. The results also suggest the existence of additional factors contributing to airborne biologicals load in infants' bedrooms that deserve further investigation. Findings stress the need for investigating the existence of declared interactive effects between chemical and biological air pollutants to accurately understand the health risk that the assessed levels can represent to infants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Felgueiras
- INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Zenaida Mourão
- INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Marta Fonseca Gabriel
- INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ma JJ. Blowing in the wind: Bacteria and fungi are spreading from public restroom hand dryers. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2020; 76:52-60. [PMID: 32720586 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2020.1799183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify and quantify fungi and bacteria in the airflow of restroom hand dryers in public areas. Airflow from restroom hand dryers in 8 retail locations was tested using three types of culture media, followed by PCR and sequence analysis to identify microbial species. Both bacterial and fungal colonies were detected in all locations. The number of colonies did not vary significantly across different locations, suggesting a similar level of microbial spread by hand dryers between different types of commercial stores. Molecular analysis revealed 24 bacterial species and 40 fungal species. Of these species, 48% (31/64) have been reported to be implicated in various infections in humans, primarily those with underlying medical conditions. This study is the first to demonstrate the spread of fungi by the airflow of restroom hand dryers, and the first to show the prevalence of different fungal and bacterial species spread by restroom hand dryers in common public areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessie J Ma
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|