Size fractionation of bioaerosol emissions from green-waste composting. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferguson, Robert M.W.; Neath, Charlotte E.E.; Nasir, Zaheer A.; Garcia-Alcega, Sonia; Tyrrel, Sean; Coulon, Frederic; Dumbrell, Alex J.; Colbeck, Ian; Whitby, Corinne
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 147(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Bioaerosols -- Composting -- Human health -- Pathogens -- Spectral Intensity Bioaerosol Sensor (SIBS) -- Aspergillus fumigatus -- Actinobacteria -- Aspergillosis; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106327
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Size fractionated bioaerosol emissions from a compost facility where characterised. Microbial taxa, abundance, and diversity varied significantly by size fraction. Bacilli dominated the larger and Actinobacteria the smaller size fractions. The pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus dominated intermediate size fractions. This needs to be accounted for in dispersion modelling and risk assessment. Abstract: Particle size is a significant factor in determining the dispersal and inhalation risk from bioaerosols. Green-waste composting is a significant source of bioaerosols (including pathogens), but little is known about the distribution of specific taxa across size fractions. To characterise size fractionated bioaerosol emissions from a compost facility, we used a Spectral Intensity Bioaerosol Sensor (SIBS) to quantify total bioaerosols and qPCR and metabarcoding to quantify microbial bioaerosols. Overall, sub-micron bioaerosols predominated, but molecular analysis showed that most (>75%) of the airborne microorganisms were associated with the larger size fractions (>3.3 µm da ). The microbial taxa varied significantly by size, with Bacilli dominating the larger, and Actinobacteria the smaller, size fractions. The human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus dominated the intermediate size fractions (>50% da 1.1–4.7 µm), indicating that it has the potential to disperse widely and once inhaled may penetrate deep into the respiratory system. The abundance of Actinobacteria (>60% at da < 2.1 µm) and other sub-micron bioaerosols suggest that the main health effects from composting bioaerosols may come from allergenic respiratory sensitisation rather than directly via infection. These results emphasise the need to better understand the size distributions of bioaerosols across all taxa in order to model their dispersal and to inform risk assessments of human health related to composting facilities.