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Riccardi C, Di Filippo P, Pomata D, Simonetti G, Castellani F, Uccelletti D, Bruni E, Federici E, Buiarelli F. Comparison of analytical approaches for identifying airborne microorganisms in a livestock facility. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 783:147044. [PMID: 34088133 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147044] [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: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An intensive study, applied to a site characterized by multiple sources of microorganisms, was aimed at understanding the best approach to study bioaerosol. Culture-based, molecular biological, and chemical methods were applied to Particulate Matter (PM) samples collected in a livestock facility, during spring and autumn seasons, in two different outdoor areas. The first one was close to a place where feed was stored and handled and the second next to an open cowshed. Qualitative analysis of bacteria was performed by sequencing techniques applied to DNA extracted from both isolated culturable bacteria and particulate matter samples. Quantification of microorganisms was achieved through three distinct approaches. Microorganism colonies were counted, after incubation at 28 °C, and expressed as colony-forming units (CFU) per m3. Chemical method consisted in the identification of individual biomarkers, and their conversion to number of microorganisms per m3, using proper conversion factors. Finally, qPCR was applied to DNA extracted from PM samples, and the results were expressed as total amount of bacteria present in the bioaerosol (UG/m3). The presence of airborne sterols was also studied to broaden the knowledge of bioaerosol components in atmosphere. Small seasonal differences and major sampling site differences occurred. Obviously, culture-dependent method identified less and different bacteria, than culture-independent approach. The chemical approach and the culture independent metagenomic method were in good agreement. As expected, CFU/m3 accounted for not more than 0.3% of bacteria calculated as the average of chemical and culture independent metagenomic methods. The complexity of the obtained results shows that the different approaches are complementary to obtain an exhaustive description of bioaresol in terms of concentration, speciation, viability, pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Giulia Simonetti
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Uccelletti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Bruni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Ermanno Federici
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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Toxic Organic Contaminants in Airborne Particles: Levels, Potential Sources and Risk Assessment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18084352. [PMID: 33923970 PMCID: PMC8073354 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In the last years, many studies have focused on risk assessment of exposure of workers to airborne particulate matter (PM). Several studies indicate a strong correlation between PM and adverse health outcomes, as a function of particle size. In the last years, the study of atmospheric particulate matter has focused more on particles less than 10 μm or 2.5 μm in diameter; however, recent studies identify in particles less than 0.1 μm the main responsibility for negative cardiovascular effects. The present paper deals with the determination of 66 organic compounds belonging to six different classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ultrafine, fine and coarse fractions of PM (PM < 0.1 µm; 0.1 < PM < 2.5 µm and 2.5 < PM < 10 µm) collected in three outdoor workplaces and in an urban outdoor area. Data obtained were analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA), in order to underline possible correlation between sites and classes of pollutants and characteristic emission sources. Emission source studies are, in fact, a valuable tool for both identifying the type of emission source and estimating the strength of each contamination source, as useful indicator of environment healthiness. Moreover, both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were determined in order to estimate human health risk associated to study sites. Risk analysis was carried out evaluating the contribution of pollutant distribution in PM size fractions for all the sites. The results highlighted significant differences between the sites and specific sources of pollutants related to work activities were identified. In all the sites and for all the size fractions of PM both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values were below acceptable and safe levels of risks recommended by the regulatory agencies.
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Petracchini F, Romagnoli P, Paciucci L, Vichi F, Imperiali A, Paolini V, Liotta F, Cecinato A. Influence of transport from urban sources and domestic biomass combustion on the air quality of a mountain area. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:4741-4754. [PMID: 27981478 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-8111-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The environmental influence of biomass burning for civil uses was investigated through the determination of several air toxicants in the town of Leonessa and its surroundings, in the mountain region of central Italy. Attention was focussed on PM10, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and regulated gaseous pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, ozone and benzene). Two in-field campaigns were carried out during the summer 2012 and the winter 2013. Contemporarily, air quality was monitored in Rome and other localities of Lazio region. In the summer, all pollutants, with the exception of ozone, were more abundant in Rome. On the other hand, in the winter, PAH concentration was higher in Leonessa (15.8 vs. 7.0 ng/m3), while PM10 was less concentrated (22 vs. 34 μg/m3). Due to lack of other important sources and to limited impact of vehicle traffic, biomass burning was identified as the major PAH source in Leonessa during the winter. This hypothesis was confirmed by PAH molecular signature of PM10 (i.e. concentration diagnostic ratios and 206 ion mass trace in the chromatograms). A similar phenomenon (i.e. airborne particulate levels similar to those of the capital city but higher PAH loads) was observed in other locations of the province, suggesting that uncontrolled biomass burning contributed to pollution across the Rome metropolitan area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Petracchini
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Paola Romagnoli
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Lucia Paciucci
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Francesca Vichi
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Andrea Imperiali
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Valerio Paolini
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy.
| | - Flavia Liotta
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Angelo Cecinato
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Via Salaria km 29, 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
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GUIDI GUIDODE, LIBRANDO VITO, MINNITI ZELICA, BOLZACCHINI EZIO, PERRINI GIANCARLO, BRACCHITTA GIUSEPPINA, ALPARONE ANDREA, CATALFO ALFIO. The PAH and Nitro-PAH Concentration Profiles in Size-Segregated Urban Particulate Matter and Soil in Traffic-Related Sites in Catania, Italy. Polycycl Aromat Compd 2012. [DOI: 10.1080/10406638.2011.654306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Chirico R, Spezzano P, Cataldi D. GAS-PARTICLE PARTITIONING OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER IN A SUBURBAN SITE NEAR MAJOR TRAFFIC ARTERIES. Polycycl Aromat Compd 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/10406630701624366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Cecinato A, Balducci C. Detection of cocaine in the airborne particles of the Italian cities Rome and Taranto. J Sep Sci 2007; 30:1930-5. [PMID: 17638364 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.200700039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine was first detected in the air of two Italian cities, Rome and Taranto, where it reached concentrations sometimes exceeding 100 pg/m(3), by HRGC-MS analysis of carbonaceous aerosol samples. By contrast, the drug was virtually absent in Algiers (Algeria). In Italy, atmospheric concentrations of cocaine were, on average, similar to those of other toxic pollutants like polychlorobiphenyls or nitrated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and higher than those of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorodibenzofurans. The cocaine concentrations seemed to correlate with regional consumption of the drug in Rome and Taranto. By contrast, it correlated neither with nicotine or caffeine, nor with benzo[a]pyrene, the sole organic compound associated with aerosols that is quoted according to Italian legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Cecinato
- Istituto Inquinamento Atmosferico CNR, Monterotondo Scalo, Via Salaria km. 29.3, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo, RM, Italy.
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Di Filippo P, Riccardi C, Gariazzo C, Incoronato F, Pomata D, Spicaglia S, Cecinato A. Air pollutants and the characterization of the organic content of aerosol particles in a mixed industrial/semi-rural area in central Italy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 9:275-82. [PMID: 17344954 DOI: 10.1039/b615118c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Both regulated and unregulated air pollutants were detected during an intensive seasonal sampling campaign in a mixed industrial/semi-rural area on the outskirts of Rome, Italy, at two sites located opposite a hospital waste incinerator, downwind according to the direction of the prevailing local winds. Concentrations of pollutants were significantly lower than in urban atmospheres. The composition of particulate organic material indicated a heavy biogenic impact, accompanied by a lower contribution from petroleum-related processes. Both PAH and nitro-PAH group compositions of particulates were used to assess the nature and relative importance of sources. Both sites showed that different and diffuse sources contributed to local pollution with a significant contribution from traffic, proving that the hospital waste incinerator was not the main pollution source in this area. Among unregulated compounds, a series of positional isomers of nitro-PAHs and other organic compounds associated with particulate matter were investigated. In particular, 1- and 3-nitrophenanthrene identification was carried out, and they proved to be the most abundant nitro-PAHs.
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