Significant higher airborne antibiotic resistance genes and the associated inhalation risk in the indoor than the outdoor. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Yanhui; Wang, Qing; Chen, Zeyou; Mao, Daqing; Luo, Yi
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 268(2021)Part B
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Antibiotic resistomes -- Indoor and outdoor aerosols -- Antibiotic-resistant pathogens -- ARG hosts -- Daily intake (DI); Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115620
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Inhalation of airborne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can lead to antimicrobial resistance and potential health risk. In modern society, increasing individuals stay more indoors, however, studies regarding the exposure to airborne ARGs in indoor environments and the associated risks remain limited. Here, we compared the variance of aerosol-associated ARGs, bacterial microbiomes, and their daily intake (DI) burden in dormitory, office, and outdoor environments in a university in Tianjin. The results indicated that compared to outdoor aerosols, indoors exhibited significantly higher absolute abundance of both ARG subtypes and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) (1–7 orders of magnitude), 16S rRNA genes (2–3 orders), and total culturable bacteria (1–3 orders). Furthermore, we observed that significantly different airborne bacterial communities are the major drivers contributing to the variance of aerosol-associated ARGs in indoor and outdoor aerosols. Notably, the high abundances of total bacteria, potential pathogenic genera, and ARGs (particularly those harbored by pathogens) in indoor and outdoor aerosols, especially in indoors, may pose an increased exposure risk via inhalation. The successful isolation of human pathogens such as Elizabethkingia anopheles, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Delftia lacustris resistant to the "last-resort" antibiotics carbapenems and polymyxin B from indoor aerosols further indicated an increased exposure risk in indoors. Together, this study highlights the potential risks associated with ARGs and their inhalation to human health in indoor environments. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Significantly higher abundance of airborne ARGs and bacteria in the indoors than the outdoors. Airborne bacterial microbiome could drive site-specific aerosol-associated ARGs. Prevalence of culturable and unculturable potential pathogenic ARB in indoors and outdoors. Significantly higher daily intake burden in indoors indicates exposure risk via inhalation.