Enhanced Polonium Concentrations in Aerosols from the Gulf Oil Producing Region and the Role of Microorganisms

Abstract

This study provides the first data set of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in the organic and inorganic components of several particle size classes of aerosols collected at two sampling stations in Kuwait. The 210Po concentrations in the aerosols (Bq/g) were similar in all of the particle size classes, but as most (91%) of the aerosol load was made of fine fraction particles of PM0.39–2.5 µm, most of the 210Po activity was carried by this aerosol fraction. At the two sampling stations, the 210Po/210Pb activity concentration ratios in the aerosols were similar, stable around the year, and averaged 1.5 (range 1.2–1.9), much higher than the typical activity concentration ratios of these radionuclides in unmodified (background) aerosols, with Po/Pb < 0.1. The aerosol enrichment in 210Po was likely originated from the oil industry, specifically by gas flaring and oil refining in the Gulf region. Radionuclide analysis in the organic and inorganic components of aerosols showed that the 210Po concentration in the organic component was one order of magnitude higher than the 210Po concentration in the inorganic component, in contrast with 210Pb, which displayed similar concentrations in both organic and inorganic aerosol components. The 210Po carrying organic component of aerosols was investigated and it was found to be largely composed of microorganisms with high microbial and fungi diversity, with the phyla Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota being dominant among the bacteria and with Zygomycota being dominant among the fungi. Therefore, we are facing an active concentration process of the atmospheric 210Po carried out by microorganisms, which underlies the 210Po enrichment process in the organic component of aerosols. This bioconcentration of polonium in bioaerosols was unknown.

Antibiotic Resistance Genes Associated with Marine Surface Sediments: A Baseline from the Shores of Kuwait

“…Metals, organic contaminants, naturally occurring radioactive material (NORMs), pharmaceutical compounds, microplastics, and others are discharged, leaked, and leached from ports, shipping, oil refineries, desalination plants, wastewater treatment plants, and other industries into the aquatic environment. In addition, contaminants are also transported over a long range with dust, which is a chronic problem in arid regions [17][18][19]. The coastal environment is one of the most productive ecosystems and harbors a rich microbial community.…”

Study of Polonium (210Po) Activity Concentration in Fruit Wines Derived from Different Locations in Poland

“…Additionally, heavy metals and other toxic compounds, PM 2.5 and PM 10 , contain radionuclides. The radioactivity of the coarse particles derived mainly from the radon progeny are in disequilibrium between 210 Pb and 210 Po [ 43 ].…”

Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Aerosols: Baseline from Kuwait

“…In addition to this, the positive amplification of Pan1 and Pan3 bacterial DNA in our samples suggests the presence of bacterial families, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Euryarchaeota, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes and Spirochaetes. We have previously reported both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria from analogous phyla in aerosol particulate fractions collected from urban, rural and clinical places [ 17 , 21 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. A cocktail of microorganisms was reported in air particulate matter during a smog event in China [ 56 ].…”