Community Structure and Influencing Factors of Airborne Microbial Aerosols over Three Chinese Cities with Contrasting Social-Economic Levels

Abstract

As an important part of atmospheric aerosol, airborne bacteria have major impacts on human health. However, variations of airborne community structure due to human-induced activities and their possible impact on human health have not been well understood. In this study, we sampled atmospheric microbial aerosols in three Chinese cities (Shanghai, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou) with contrasting social-economic levels and analyzed the bacterial composition using high-throughput sequencing methods. A high similarity of the predominant phyla was observed in three cities but the relative abundances were quite different. At the genus level, the most dominant genus in Shanghai and Xiamen was Deinococcus while the most dominant genus in Zhangzhou was Clostridium. The different characteristics of airborne bacterial in the three cities above may be ascribed to the environmental variables affected by human over-activities such as the vehicle exhausts and coal-burning emissions in Shanghai, the tourist aggregation and construction works in Xiamen, the extensive uses of chemical fertilizers, and agricultural activities in Zhangzhou. The variation of the bacterial community and the pathogenic bacteria detected in three cities would have a potential threat to human health.

Global Meta-analysis of Airborne Bacterial Communities and Associations with Anthropogenic Activities

“…7 As a result of their free mobility, airborne bacteria are important in microbial exchange among the biosphere and other environments, such as soil and marine environments, 8 thereby facilitating the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors, and functional genes. 9 Considering the potential importance of airborne bacteria in public health, numerous studies have devoted considerable efforts to investigate factors influencing airborne bacterial composition and biodiversity, including meteorological parameters 10,11 and anthropogenic activities. 12 However, knowledge of airborne bacterial communities, especially their associations with anthropogenic activities, remains limited due to the inconsistent results yielded by previous studies.…”

“…Considering the potential importance of airborne bacteria in public health, numerous studies have devoted considerable efforts to investigate factors influencing airborne bacterial composition and biodiversity, including meteorological parameters , and anthropogenic activities . However, knowledge of airborne bacterial communities, especially their associations with anthropogenic activities, remains limited due to the inconsistent results yielded by previous studies.…”

Outdoor Assessment of Airborne Microorganisms During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Madinah City, KSA

“…They both display a range of differences in terms of their composition and spatiotemporal dynamics. 45 Taking into account the possible role of airborne microorganisms in public health, many studies have investigated factors affecting airborne microbial composition and biodiversity, including meteorological conditions, 46,47 as well as human activities. 48 In March 2020, strict lockdown procedures were implemented by the Saudi authorities to stop the spread of the coronavirus.…”

Portable ultrasonic humidifier exacerbates indoor bioaerosol risks by raising bacterial concentrations and fueling pathogenic genera

“…During the ventilation, there was no rain, and the outdoor air humidity & temperaturesthe "biomarker for bioaerosol dynamics" rigorously validated by Gusareva et al 31 -remained stable (see Figure S3). The stable atmospheric conditions may lay a foundation for reaching a steady outdoor bioaerosol environment 31,32 2). The humidifiers were filled with test water on the first experimental day before being set in the chambers.…”

“…In both early cases, the symptoms were chest tightness and dyspnea, followed after a few hours by fever, malaise, and leukocytosis. 11 More recently (in 2017), 32 employees in a humidified workshop in Wuxi, China, developed fever symptoms, accounting for near half of its total workforce. 12 Due to the humidifier's tremendous popularity, health issues have been reported across the world in Netherlands, 13 Switzerland, 14 British, 15,16 American, 17 China, 12,18 Japan, 19 etc., 20,21 demonstrating serious respiratory symptoms after ultrasonic humidification.…”