Winter Time Concentrations and Size Distribution of Bioaerosols in Different Residential Settings in the UK

Abstract

The total concentration and size distribution of bioaerosols in three different types of housing (single room in shared accommodation (type I), single bedroom flat in three storey building (type II) and two or three bedroom detached houses (type III)) was assessed during the winter. This research was an extension of a previous study carried out in the summer. The measurement campaign was undertaken in winter 2008 and thirty houses were sampled. Samples were taken from kitchens, living rooms, corridors (only in housing type I) and outdoors with an Anderson 6 stage viable impactor. In housing type I the total geometric mean concentration was highest in the corridor for both bacteria and fungi (3171 CFU/m 3 , 1281 CFU/m 3 ). In type II residences both culturable bacteria and fungi were greatest in the living rooms (3487 CFU/m 3 , 833 CFU/m 3 ). The living rooms in type III residences had largest number of culturable bacteria (1361 CFU/m 3 ) while fungi were highest in kitchens (280 CFU/m 3 ). The concentrations of culturable bacteria and fungi were greater in mouldy houses than non-mouldy houses. A considerable variation was seen in the size distribution of culturable bacteria in type I residences compared to types II and III. For all housing types more than half of culturable bacterial and fungal aerosol were respirable (<4.7μm) and so have the potential to penetrate into lower respiratory system. Considerable variation in concentration and size distribution within different housing types in the same geographical region highlights the impact of differences in design, construction, use and management of residential built environment on bioaerosols levels and consequent varied risk of population exposure to airborne biological agents.

Combining culturing and 16S rDNA sequencing to reveal seasonal and room variations of household airborne bacteria and correlative environmental factors in nanjing, southeast china

“…All homes are in 1 to 22 story buildings, with 8 homes in low story (1-3), 14 homes in middle story (4-10), and 8 homes in high story (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). The urban districts included Xuanwu (n = 4), Gulou (n = 3), Qinhuai (n = 1), and Jianye (n = 3), and the suburban districts included Jiangning (n = 9), Qixia (n = 6), and Pukou (n = 4), shown in Figure 1.…”

“…Residential bioaerosols have been extensively studies around the world, including developed countries like United States, 9,10 Denmark, 11 Australia, 12 UK, 13 and Korea, 14,15 as well as developing countries like China 16,17 and Pakistan 18 . Previous studies have reported that indoor spaces often harbor unique microbial communities, with common bacteria in indoor environments being Staphylococcus , Corynebacterium , Lactococcus , Firmicutes , and Actinobacteria 1,35,36 .…”

Indoor exposure levels of bacteria and fungi in residences, schools, and offices in China: A systematic review

“…24 Outdoor bacteria and fungi from plants and vegetables 25 can enter the building through ventilation systems, doors, windows, attached to people, pets, and other objects, as a result, affecting the indoor concentration level. 26 However, information on these factors is still not well understand. The indoor and outdoor influencing factors need to be systematically considered to make recommendations for microbes controlling.…”

“…As the primary source, a human can emit about 14 million cells h ‐1 for bacteria and 14 million spore equivalents h ‐1 for fungi, which cause the average airborne bacteria to reach 81 times and fungi to reach 15 times concentrations as compared to vacant classrooms 24 . Outdoor bacteria and fungi from plants and vegetables 25 can enter the building through ventilation systems, doors, windows, attached to people, pets, and other objects, as a result, affecting the indoor concentration level 26 . However, information on these factors is still not well understand.…”

Molecular sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of bioaerosols in hospital wards with different ventilation conditions

“…A range of factors including ventilation, building design, management and usage can greatly affect the bioaerosols levels in hospitals. These factors vary across the globe due to socioeconomic and climatic conditions [13]. In Pakistan, infection control strategies and their applications are highly variable across the health settings.…”