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Atmosphere
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Aerobiology and Health Impacts
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Aerobiology and Health Impacts

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Aerosols".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 11288

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Concetta D'Ovidio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Interests: aerobiology; allergy; environmental exposure; occupational health; biological agents; climate change; innovative and omics methodologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Pasquale Capone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Interests: aerobiology; genetic polymorphisms; microRNA; microclimate; thermal comfort; synergistic interactions; occupational health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global burden of allergy is estimated to be between 30% and 40%. Asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis are the main derived pathologies that may affect individuals. Airborne biological-derived agents can be vegetable or animal in origin, and in this context residential and workplace settings can both be considered sources of exposure. Pollen is the most represented component in bioaerosol, and can be responsible for various forms of allergy in sensitized individuals. This biocomponent is linked to different topics, such as environmental and human health. In this regard, numerous related themes include climate change, chemical pollution, extreme events, meteorological variables, indoor and outdoor exposure, urban green spaces, Sustainable Development Goals, occupants, allergy, occupational allergy, pollen food allergy syndrome, and biomarkers. Exposure in urban, suburban, and rural environments as well as exposure to vegetation are factors to take into account.

This Special Issue aims to review the current knowledge on several aspects of aerobiology, including impacts on public and occupational health, as well as innovative and omics methodologies to evaluate the sources of exposure and the health effects. Experimental and review studies on these topics are welcome.

Dr. Maria Concetta D'Ovidio
Dr. Pasquale Capone
Guest Editors

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

  • aerobiology
  • pollen
  • climate change
  • health
  • occupational health
  • allergy
  • pollen food allergy syndrome
  • chemical co-exposure
  • biomarkers
  • urban green spaces

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 511 KiB  
Communication
Climate Change: An Issue That Should Be Part of Workers’ Information and Training Duties Envisaged by EU Directives on Occupational Health and Safety
by Carlo Grandi, Andrea Lancia and Maria Concetta D’Ovidio
Atmosphere 2023, 14(7), 1183; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14071183 - 21 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1508
Abstract
The impact of climate change on the physical environment, ecosystems, and human societies is increasingly recognized as the most important global challenge. Climate change may alter, among others, the thermal environment, the occurrence of extreme weather events, and the human exposure to physical, [...] Read more.
The impact of climate change on the physical environment, ecosystems, and human societies is increasingly recognized as the most important global challenge. Climate change may alter, among others, the thermal environment, the occurrence of extreme weather events, and the human exposure to physical, chemical, and biological pollutants, thus affecting human health with several potential outcomes. The impact of climate change on occupational health and safety has been receiving increasing attention in last years. In the European Union, the health and safety of workers is under the rule of Directive 89/391 and its daughters. In a changing climate, compliance with all requirements of the existing EU regulation entails an additional effort to implement preventive and protective measures. A central role in workers’ health protection is played by proper workers’ information and training, which is partly in charge of the occupational physicians. This paper provides a basic proposal on topics related to climate change to update workers’ information and training and to integrate the curricula of occupational physicians. Importantly, suitable information and training may contribute to promoting workers’ health and to implement adaptation measures, which are part of the individual, societal, and global responses to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerobiology and Health Impacts)
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18 pages, 2781 KiB  
Article
Triggering of an Epidemic Outbreak via Long-Range Atmospheric Transport of Bio-Aerosols—Application to a Hypothetical Case for COVID-19
by Bertrand R. Rowe, J. Brian A. Mitchell, André Canosa and Roland Draxler
Atmosphere 2023, 14(6), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14061050 - 19 Jun 2023
Viewed by 2000
Abstract
In the present work, we investigate the possibility that long-range airborne transport of infectious aerosols could initiate an epidemic outbreak at distances downwind beyond one hundred kilometers. For this, we have developed a simple atmospheric transport box model, which, for a hypothetical case [...] Read more.
In the present work, we investigate the possibility that long-range airborne transport of infectious aerosols could initiate an epidemic outbreak at distances downwind beyond one hundred kilometers. For this, we have developed a simple atmospheric transport box model, which, for a hypothetical case of a COVID-19 outbreak, was compared to a more sophisticated three-dimensional transport-dispersion model (HYSPLIT) calculation. Coupled with an extended Wells–Riley description of infection airborne spread, it shows that the very low probability of outdoor transmission can be compensated for by high numbers and densities of infected and susceptible people in the source upwind and in the target downwind, respectively, such as occur in large urban areas. This may result in the creation of a few primary cases. It is worth pointing out that the probability of being infected remains very small at the individual level. Therefore, this process alone, which depends on population sizes, geography, seasonality, and meteorology, can only “trigger” an epidemic, which could then spread via the standard infection routes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerobiology and Health Impacts)
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20 pages, 4553 KiB  
Article
Aerobiological Monitoring in an Indoor Occupational Setting Using a Real-Time Bioaerosol Sampler
by Andrea Lancia, Angela Gioffrè, Federico Di Rita, Donatella Magri and Maria Concetta D’Ovidio
Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010118 - 5 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2325
Abstract
Aerobiological monitoring is a crucial tool for human and environmental health. Real-time bioaerosol samplers are major innovative techniques for aerobiological monitoring. In this study, we evaluate the use of a real-time bioaerosol sampler to monitor the exposure in an indoor occupational environment. We [...] Read more.
Aerobiological monitoring is a crucial tool for human and environmental health. Real-time bioaerosol samplers are major innovative techniques for aerobiological monitoring. In this study, we evaluate the use of a real-time bioaerosol sampler to monitor the exposure in an indoor occupational environment. We used a WIBS-NEO sampler, continuously operating during working and non-working days. The fluorescent particles were 16.5% of the total, identifiable as bioparticles. There was a significant difference between working and non-working days regarding bioparticles (+19% on average), especially in the morning (+91% on average), the part of the day mostly associated to worker presence. In working days, there is a difference between working and non-working-hours, reinforced by a strong correlation between the time of occupation of the room and the number of particles identified as pollen and fungal spores (R2 = 0.741, p < 0.01). The bacterial component does not seem to be influenced by the presence of workers; however, it follows the general distribution of bioparticles. Our results indicate the reliability of the real-time instrument for the monitoring of different biocomponents, and the role of workers in the distribution of some types of bioaerosol particles, like pollen and fungal spores, which can have several health impacts, such as allergies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerobiology and Health Impacts)
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Review

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13 pages, 319 KiB  
Review
New Developments in Climate Change, Air Pollution, Pollen Allergy, and Interaction with SARS-CoV-2
by Gennaro D’Amato, Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Benedetta Biagioni, Andrea Lancia, Lorenzo Cecchi, Maria Concetta D’Ovidio and Maria D’Amato
Atmosphere 2023, 14(5), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14050848 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4178
Abstract
In recent years, the environmental impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident. Extreme meteorological events are influenced by climate change, which also alter the magnitude and pattern of precipitations and winds. Climate change can have a particularly negative impact on respiratory health, [...] Read more.
In recent years, the environmental impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident. Extreme meteorological events are influenced by climate change, which also alter the magnitude and pattern of precipitations and winds. Climate change can have a particularly negative impact on respiratory health, which can lead to the emergence of asthma and allergic respiratory illnesses. Pollen is one of the main components of the atmospheric bioaerosol and is able to induce allergic symptoms in certain subjects. Climate change affects the onset, length, and severity of the pollen season, with effects on pollen allergy. Higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) can lead to enhanced photosynthesis and a higher pollen production in plants. Pollen grains can also interact with air pollutants and be affected by thunderstorms and other extreme events, exacerbating the insurgence of respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. The consequences of climate change might also favor the spreading of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 one. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerobiology and Health Impacts)
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