Aerobiologia最新文献

This article provides a brief review of morphological features (MFs), chemical and biological aspects of particulate matters (PMs) and their effects on humans and crops. Based on previous studies, it has been found that particles such as carbonaceous, metal-rich, crust-element, fly-ash and biological particles usually exhibit multifarious morphology, due to diverse sources. Thirty-seven elements have been identified; some of them, viz. arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, nickel, vanadium and titanium, are extremely hazardous for humans and plants compared to other elements. These toxic elements (TEs)/toxic metals (TMs) can pose several potential diseases such as respiratory, asthma, cardiovascular, neurological and reproductive diseases on humans and also damage the food security by the causing of direct/indirect injuries, such as chlorosis/necrosis, damages cell/tissue/stomata and stunting on crops. Airborne microbes (AMs), especially fungi, are vital components of atmospheric PMs; diverse species of aeromycoflora belonging to the genus Cladosporium, Conidia, Penicillium, Alternaria, Fusarium, Aspergillus and Puccinia have been found associated with atmospheric PMs in which mostly act as pathogens and can give rise to numerous categories of diseases in humans such as skin allergy, pulmonary, respiratory, aspergillosis, pneumonia and asthma as well as on crops (wheat, rice and maize) like rust, blast and spot. This valuable information about morphological, chemical and biological (fungi) features of atmospheric PMs, their sources and deleterious consequences on humans and crops will also be cooperative for future research to assess the toxic impacts of PMs on both humans as well as crops.

Graphical abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused an unprecedented loss of life with colossal social and economic fallout over 237 countries and territories worldwide. Environmental conditions played a significant role in spreading the virus. Despite the availability of literature, the consecutive waves of COVID-19 in all geographical conditions create the necessity of reviewing the impact of environmental factors on it. This study synthesized and reviewed the findings of 110 previously published articles on meteorological factors and COVID-19 transmission. This study aimed to identify the diversified impacts of meteorological factors on the spread of infection and suggests future research. Temperature, rainfall, air quality, sunshine, wind speed, air pollution, and humidity were found as investigated frequently. Correlation and regression analysis have been widely used in previous studies. Most of the literature showed that temperature and humidity have a favorable relationship with the spread of COVID-19. On the other hand, 20 articles stated no relationship with humidity, and nine were revealed the negative effect of temperature. The daily number of COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 4.86% for every 1 °C increase in temperature. Sunlight was also found as a significant factor in 10 studies. Moreover, increasing COVID-19 incidence appeared to be associated with increased air pollution, particularly PM10, PM2.5, and O₃ concentrations. Studies also indicated a negative relation between the air quality index and the COVID-19 cases. This review determined environmental variables' complex and contradictory effects on COVID-19 transmission. Hence it becomes essential to include environmental parameters into epidemiological models and controlled laboratory experiments to draw more precious results.

Daily monitoring of airborne fungal spores was carried out for the first time in Al Khor city, Qatar, using a Hirst type 7-day recording volumetric spore trap, from May 2017 to May 2019. During the sampling period, the annual and monthly fluctuations, as well as intradiurnal variations of airborne fungal spore concentrations, were evaluated. Cladosporium, followed by Alternaria, were the spore types most abundant in the atmosphere of the city, with a strong interannual variability in the atmospheric concentrations being observed. The Annual Spore Integrals (ASIns) were 3334 and 1172 spore * day/m³ (2017–2018), and 6796 and 1538 spore * day/m³ (2018–2019) for Cladosporium and Alternaria, respectively. Total daily spore concentrations showed significantly positive correlations with mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures but significantly negative correlations with relative humidity. However, due to the scarce rainfalls’ days, we did not find a statistically significant correlations between Cladosporium and Alternaria spore concentrations and this parameter. Despite this, the spore peaks were strongly related to precipitations that occurred during the previous month. In general, no significant correlations were found with wind speed but, regarding wind direction, the higher percentage of spores were collected when wind blows from the 4th quadrant (NW). According to the intradiurnal pattern, Cladosporium fungal spores displayed their maximum daily concentration during 8:00–10:00 h in the morning, with a second peak in the afternoon, while for Alternaria, the maximum peaks were observed between 08:00 and 14:00 h. Because no consistent previous aerobiological studies exist from Qatar, the aim of this study is to define the seasonality and intradiurnal behaviour of these two airborne fungal spore and the role that, in such arid scene, the meteorological parameters play on the spore concentrations.

Global air pollution is a serious problem, and the chemical components in PM can facilitate the invasion of biological components in the human body. However, previous studies have paid little attention to the health risks associated with fungi, as opposed to those associated with bacteria and viruses. This study analyzed fungal community structures, diversity and nutrition acquisition patterns under different weather conditions (sun, haze and dust). The results showed that the characteristics of the fungal community changed significantly when special weather occurred. Diversity and uniformity increased significantly, and the increase on haze days was greater than that on dust days. The dominant genera of fungi on sunny days were Periconia (26.76%) and Alternaria (27.56%), and the dominant genus of fungi on haze and dust days was Aspergillus (70.34 and 86.82%, respectively). According to the calculation of the concentration of cultivable fungi, the HI value on haze days was 1.43 times greater than that on sunny days. The exposure risk in adults was greater than that in children (adults (Age: 18–60) > adults (Age: > 60) > children (Age: 0–5) > children (Age: 6–17)). Within the same age group, the exposure risk in males was greater than that in females. According to the species annotation results, the relative abundance of dangerous fungi under special weather increased significantly, and the interaction between PM and microorganisms increased the health risk posed by special weather-related fungi in humans. The FUNGuild gene annotation results revealed that the pathogenic fungus content on sunny days was higher than those on haze and dust days, so the health risks associated with sunny days should not be ignored.

Allergenic pollens produced by some tree species in urban parks, a part of the urban flora, cause pollinosis, allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma. The allergenic pollen levels of four urban parks in Aydin (Turkey) were determined using the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (I_UGZA). The potential allergenicity value (PAV) of each species and the crown volume of each individual belonging to the species were used in the index calculation. According to their PAV values, tree species were classified as nil (0), low (1–6), moderate (8–12), high (16–24), and very high (27–36) allergenicity. The Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI) was used to calculate the parks’ biodiversity levels. Canonical correspondence analysis, one of the ordination methods, was used to identify the species distribution among the four parks and reveal the relationship between the SHDI, number of species, tree density, and I_UGZA. The ratio of allergenic tree species in the four parks examined varied between 97.90 and 100%. The PAV of 9 tree species, including the genus Cupressus in the Cupressaceae family, was determined as very high, while the PAV of 20 tress species, including the genus Prunus, was revealed to be low. While the park with the lowest I_UGZA value (0.17) was Aytepe Recreation Area, the park with the highest I_UGZA value (0.52) was Pinarbasi Recreation Area. The lowest Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI) value (0.70) was detected in Aytepe Recreation Area, whereas the highest value (2.90) was determined in Nevzat Bicer Park. There was no correlation between the I_UGZA value and species count, tree density, and SHDI variables. Ismet Sezgin Park and Pinarbasi Recreation Area pose a risk to human health at any time of the year. The results, which focused on allergenic flora, should be used to design new parks and revitalize existing ones.

Information on the allergenic pollen season provides insight on the state of the environment of a region and facilitates allergy symptom management. We present a retrospective analysis of the duration and severity of the allergenic pollen season and the role of meteorological factors in Istanbul, Turkey. Aerobiological sampling from January 2013 to June 2016, pollen identification and counting followed current standard methodology. Pollen seasons were defined according to 95% of the Annual Pollen Integral (APIn) and the season start date was compared with the first day of 5 day consecutive non-zero records. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were created to study the effect of meteorological factors on flowering. The main pollen contributors were taxa of temperate and Mediterranean climates, and neophytic Ambrosia. Cupressaceae, Poaceae, Pinaceae, Quercus and Ambrosia had the greatest relative abundance. The pollen season defined on 95% of the APIn was adequate for our location with total APIns around 10.000 pollen*day*m⁻³. Woody taxa had generally shorter seasons than herbaceous taxa. In trees, we see precipitation as the main limiting factor for assimilate production prior to anthesis. A severe tree pollen season in 2016 suggests intense synchronous flowering across taxa and populations triggered by favourable water supply in the preceding year. GAM models can explain the effect of weather on pollen concentrations during anthesis. Under the climatic conditions over the study period, temperature had a negative effect on spring flowering trees, and a positive one on summer flowering weeds. Humidity, atmospheric pressure and precipitation had a negative effect on weeds. Our findings contribute to environmental and allergological knowledge in southern Europe and Turkey with relevancy in the assessment of impacts of climate change and the management of allergic disease.

In recent years, monitoring of airborne bacteria and fungi concentrations has obtained increasing universal attraction not only for influences on ecological balance but also for evaluating their public health consequences. In this study, we aimed to investigate culturable airborne bacteria and fungi levels in different sites of Abadan, and their association with meteorological parameters and PM_2.5 levels. Abadan is one of the most industrialized cities in the southwest of Iran where over the current decade has experienced lots of dust storm episodes. In total, 400 air samples were collected in 6 months (autumn and winter) using a single-stage viable Andersen cascade impactor for sampling airborne bacteria and fungi and portable DustTrak Aerosol Monitor 8520 for measuring PM_2.5 concentrations and meteorological parameters. Microbial concentrations showed a significant difference between various sites over the study period with averages of 569.57 ± 312.64 and 482.73 ± 242.86 CFU/M³ for bacteria and fungi, respectively. The air temperature had a significant effect on the concentration of both airborne bacteria and fungi. A significant positive correlation between relative humidity and fungi but no correlation between relative humidity and bacteria concentrations were observed. The average airborne PM_2.5 concentrations of all sites among the study period was 93.24 ± 116.72 μg/m³. The atmospheric bacterial and fungal communities were strongly positively correlated with the ambient PM_2.5 level. The levels of airborne bacteria and fungi along with PM_2.5 in the air of the city were relatively higher than the recommended levels. Therefore, the best course of action is needed to control emission sources. Further studies are also needed to evaluate the clinical analysis of the health effects of exposure to these pollutants.

Fungal particles were observed on the pollen grains of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) in air samples collected in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. Microscopical observations showed the colonization of pollen grains by different fungal taxa. Concentration data were correlated with meteorological factors, day of the year (DOY), PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and spore levels. Pollen grains infected by fungi became common at the end of the pollen season. These particles correlated positively with wind speed and airborne spores, but a negative correlation was found with temperature. Pollen grains were most frequently infected with Cladosporium spp., but other fungi, such as Alternaria, Aspergillus/Penicillium, and yeasts were also found. A source of infected pollen grains was proven to be the plants’ surface, where fungi colonized pollen grains, and subsequently, they were aerosolized by wind. Our results indicate that reaerosolization events can be identified by the closer examination of fungi found on pollen grains.

The special characteristics of heroic viticulture combine the geographical features of the territory where particular vineyards are located and the unique production methods used in making their wines reflected in their status as special protection zones. This work sets out the results of a 2 year project in which the impact of the main cryptogamic diseases affecting vines in the Ribeira Sacra designation of origin (northwest Spain) was studied. The incidence of such diseases was assessed to develop strategies for offsetting the high costs incurred by production and the adverse impact on the environment. For this purpose, an aerobiological study of the fungal propagules during the life cycle of the red Mencía variety was carried out. The spore concentrations were correlated with the phenology, climatic conditions and the application of anti-fungal treatments. The analysis shows that greater effectiveness can be achieved in the control of phytopathogenic fungi by means of better identification of the epidemiological development of the pathogen. The determination of the right moment for the application of phytosanitary products is also considered, as well as the correct and most effective doses, and alternative measures that do not involve the use of phytosanitary products. The study contributes to the sustainability of the crop area by seeking to integrate three fundamental dimensions: the societal context, the economy and the environment.

Exposure to bioaerosols causes infection, over-sensitivity, respiratory, and lung diseases. This study was conducted at Sanandaj wastewater treatment plant in three seasons of winter, spring and summer to investigate the type and density of bio-aerosols. Sampling was performed using a sampling pump with a discharge rate of 28.3 L/min at a height of 1.5 m above the ground; the samples were taken from five stations: treatment plant entrance, aeration tank, grit chamber, drying sludge bed and laboratory. At each sampling point, time, temperature, relative humidity (Soleimani et al.), wind speed and particulate matter were recorded. In order to identify the bacteria, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture-based methods were applied. It was also found that there was not a significant relationship between bacterial count and RH, wind direction, wind speed and temperature. Regarding fungi, the results showed that RH and wind direction and wind has a significant relationship with the concentration of fungi. The most predominant bacteria and fungi were as follows: Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Micrococcus, Enterococcus, Neisseria, Listeria, and Pseudomonas and Penicillium, Aspergillus flavus. The concentration of bacteria in the air was significantly correlated with < 4, < 5, < 7 and < 10 μm suspended particles. However, there was a correlation between particle number of 10 μm and fungi concentration in the air.