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Atmosphere
Special Issues
Airborne Microbiota in Indoor and Occupational Environments
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Airborne Microbiota in Indoor and Occupational Environments

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2023) | Viewed by 11303

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Geneviève Marchand

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institut de Recherché Robert Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail, Montreal, H3A 3C2, Canada
Interests: bioaerosol; occupational health; metrology; risk assessment; respiratory protection; aerosol dynamic

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The objective of this Special Issue is to share recent advances and provide a better understanding of the behavior of bioaerosols in indoor and occupational environments. The inhalation of microbial particles or their derivatives represents a significant risk for workers in many environments, as well as for people living in contaminated or poorly ventilated environments. Airborne microbiota can be responsible for nosocomial or occupational infections, immunological effects such as asthma or hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and toxic reactions such as organic dust toxic syndrome. A better knowledge of the airborne microbiota will allow a more precise understanding of the exposure risk, and thus will help in the implementation of adapted control measures. The study of the dynamics, behaviors, concentrations, dimensions characterisation and identification of the airborne microbiota will provide relevant information and allow for better disease prevention in exposed individuals.

In view of the above, this Special Issue aims to bring together original research, technical notes, and review articles dealing with the airborne microbiota in indoor and occupational environment studies.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Temporal and spatial variability in the type, number, size, and distribution of microbial particles,
  • Type, concentrations, and size distributions of bioaerosols in indoor and occupational environments,
  • Assessment of occupational risks related to exposure to the airborne microbiota,
  • New methodology to document the airborne microbiota and microbiome,
  • The impact of indoor conditions (temperature, humidity, air movement) on the airborne microbiome,
  • The roles of the airborne microbiome on human health,
  • Technological and methodological developments to study the airborne microbiome.

All studies involving field measurements, laboratory experiments, model simulations, and reports on preventive actions to address the airborne microbiota as a threat to public and occupational health are welcome.

Dr. Geneviève Marchand
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioaerosols
  • airborne Microbiota
  • airborne Microbiome
  • risk assessment
  • occupational health
  • indoor air
  • metrology

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2627 KiB  
Article
Effect of Odor-Treatment Biofilter on Bioaerosols from an Indoor Wastewater Treatment Plant
by Amélia Bélanger Cayouette, Arthur Ouradou, Marc Veillette, Nathalie Turgeon, Paul B. L. George, Stéphane Corbin, Christian Boulanger, Caroline Duchaine and Emilie Bédard
Atmosphere 2022, 13(10), 1723; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13101723 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2322
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are confirmed sources of bioaerosols and can be a hotspot for both antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). Bioaerosols can be a source of dispersion for bacteria and ARGs into the environment. Biofiltration is one of the most effective [...] Read more.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are confirmed sources of bioaerosols and can be a hotspot for both antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). Bioaerosols can be a source of dispersion for bacteria and ARGs into the environment. Biofiltration is one of the most effective technologies to mitigate odors from WWTPs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of an odor biofiltration system designed to remove volatile compounds, to influence the airborne bacterial diversity and to reduce the aerosolized microbial and ARG concentrations. In total, 28 air samples were collected before and after treatment of an interior WWTP. Overall, air samples collected upstream had higher total bacterial concentrations, and a shift in bacterial diversity was observed. Legionella and Mycobacterium were detected in low abundance upstream and downstream, whereas Legionella pneumophila was detected but not quantifiable in two samples. Of the 31 ARGs and mobile genetic elements detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, 15 exhibited a significant reduction in their relative abundance after biofiltration, and none were significantly higher in the effluent. Overall, these results show the benefits of odor biofiltration systems to reduce bacterial and antimicrobial resistance in treated air, a promising application to limit environmental dispersion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Airborne Microbiota in Indoor and Occupational Environments)
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14 pages, 1180 KiB  
Communication
Dust-Associated Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Indoor Multiple-Use and Public Transportation Facilities
by Jeongwon Kim, Sang Jun Han and Keunje Yoo
Atmosphere 2022, 13(9), 1373; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13091373 - 26 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1947
Abstract
Indoor microbes are readily transmitted among humans in indoor environments. Therefore, this study employed 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicon profiling to investigate the dust-associated bacterial and fungal communities in six indoor facilities in Busan, South Korea. The collected samples were categorized into [...] Read more.
Indoor microbes are readily transmitted among humans in indoor environments. Therefore, this study employed 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicon profiling to investigate the dust-associated bacterial and fungal communities in six indoor facilities in Busan, South Korea. The collected samples were categorized into two groups: indoor multiple-use facilities (MUFs), including a public bathing facility, business office, and food court; and public transportation facilities (PTFs), including two subway stations and an airport. The bacterial diversity in the MUF samples was significantly higher than the fungal diversity (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences between bacterial and fungal diversity were observed in PTF samples (p > 0.05). Moreover, the abundances of certain microbial taxa varied, suggesting that the microbial community structure was primarily determined by the source environment. Gram-positive bacterial genera, such as Corynebacterium, Kocuria, and Staphylococcus—all of which originated in the natural environment—were relatively predominant in the MUF samples; the Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Malassezia genera, which are human commensal taxa, were relatively more predominant in the PTF samples. These results suggest that different microbial communities can be formed depending on the purpose of the indoor facility type, level of passenger traffic, and surrounding environment. The findings of this study may help researchers understand indoor microbial communities in multi-use and transportation facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Airborne Microbiota in Indoor and Occupational Environments)
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16 pages, 5416 KiB  
Article
Occupational Microbial Risk among Embalmers
by Loïc Wingert, Maximilien Debia, Stéphane Hallé and Geneviève Marchand
Atmosphere 2022, 13(8), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13081281 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2450
Abstract
Embalmers are exposed to many pathogens present in bodily fluids. However, the risk posed by these pathogens has yet to be defined in terms of the nature of the hazard and the intensity of the exposure. The objective of this project was to [...] Read more.
Embalmers are exposed to many pathogens present in bodily fluids. However, the risk posed by these pathogens has yet to be defined in terms of the nature of the hazard and the intensity of the exposure. The objective of this project was to monitor the exposure of embalmers to biological particles in real time and to characterize the microbiota found in the air during embalming activities in three thanatopraxy laboratories. An innovative approach, using a laser-induced fluorescence aerosol spectrometer (WIBS-NEO), made it possible to measure the concentrations and particle size distributions of the aerosols (biological and non-biological) emitted during embalming. At the same time, an Andersen impactor was used to sample the culturable microbiota present in the air and perform its characterization. The preferential aerosolization of the biological (fluorescent) fraction during embalming procedures, which was compared to the non-biological (non-fluorescent) fraction, showed that most of the tasks performed by the embalmer are likely to lead to microbial exposure via bioaerosols. The concentrations measured represented the equivalent of 2000 to 10,000 biological particles inhaled per minute. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not identified in the air during this study, the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in some of the samples demonstrated that if a pathogen is present in the lungs of the deceased it can be aerosolized and inhaled by the embalmers. The size distribution showed that embalmers are exposed to a high proportion of small particles in the aerosols produced during their work. Thus, the respirable/total ratios calculated are between 58% and 78%. Finally, the detection of airborne Enterobacter, Serratia, Leclercia, and Hafnia tended to demonstrate the aerosolization of intestinal bacteria and their possible inhalation or ingestion. Due to the difficulty of identifying the presence of pathogenic agents before embalming, the presence of faecal bacteria in the air, the proximity of the embalmer to the body, and the limitations associated with the dilution of contaminants by general ventilation in the near field, local ventilation must be provided. Otherwise, minimally, a fitted N95-type respirator should be recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Airborne Microbiota in Indoor and Occupational Environments)
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Review

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14 pages, 1005 KiB  
Review
Use of Eco-Friendly UV-C LEDs for Indoor Environment Sanitization: A Narrative Review
by Francesco Palma, Giulia Baldelli, Giuditta Fiorella Schiavano, Giulia Amagliani, Mattia Paolo Aliano and Giorgio Brandi
Atmosphere 2022, 13(9), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13091411 - 01 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3753
Abstract
Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the enormous importance of maintaining good hygienic conditions in everyday indoor environments for the prevention of infectious diseases. This includes sanitization methods capable of significantly reducing the microbial load in the air and on surfaces. [...] Read more.
Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the enormous importance of maintaining good hygienic conditions in everyday indoor environments for the prevention of infectious diseases. This includes sanitization methods capable of significantly reducing the microbial load in the air and on surfaces. However, in line with the ecological transition, alternative systems for environmental sanitization with reduced environmental impact are urgently needed. The photocatalytic reaction using UV-C light-emitting diode (UV-C LED) lamps with short wavelengths, especially in the range of 200–280 nanometers (nm), can significantly reduce the microbial load, safeguarding the environment thanks to reduced energy consumption. The objective of this review is to describe the latest innovations in the use of UV-C LED technology in the sanitization of indoor environments, reporting the fundamental principles on which its activity relies. Methods: Two databases (PubMed, Web of Science), were searched, following PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 1348 publications were identified, of which 379 were assessed in detail and, of these, 16 were included in the review. Conclusions: This literature review highlighted that UV-C LEDs irradiation represents a valid, eco-sustainable sanitization method that could be exploited as an alternative to chemical compounds to contain indoor microbiological pollution in living and working environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Airborne Microbiota in Indoor and Occupational Environments)
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