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Atmosphere
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Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and...
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Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2020) | Viewed by 18643

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ewa Brągoszewska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Technologies and Installations for Waste Management, Silesian University of Technology, 18 Konarskiego St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: indoor and outdoor air quality; bioaerosol; bacteria; fungi; epidemiology; public health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution, a by-product of economic growth, has an enormous environmental cost. The issue of healthy living spaces and good air quality is a global concern because people inhale 15,000 L of air every 24 h. Thus, monitoring and reducing exposure to air pollutants present particular challenges. One of the crucial indicators of indoor and outdoor air quality is bioaerosols. They play an instrumental role as risk factors of adverse health outcomes. These indicators, also known as primary biological airborne particles (PBAPs), have been linked to various health effects such as infectious diseases, toxic effects, allergies, and even cancer. PBAPs include all particles with a biological source in suspension in the air (bacteria, fungi, viruses, pollen), as well as biomolecules (toxins, debris from membranes).

This Special Issue offers an opportunity to publish articles on the characteristics of biological aerosols in indoor and outdoor environments, the methods used to improve microbiological air quality, as well as health effects of and exposure assessment to bioaerosols.

Dr. Ewa Brągoszewska
Guest Editor

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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.

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Keywords

  • air pollution
  • bioaerosols
  • bacteria
  • microscopic fungi
  • pollen
  • viruses
  • exposure assessment
  • human health

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 153 KiB  
Editorial
Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments
by Ewa Brągoszewska
Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030359 - 9 Mar 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1814
Abstract
The Atmosphere Special Issue entitled “Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments” comprises five original papers [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

11 pages, 1463 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness and Eco-Costs of Air Cleaners in Terms of Improving Fungal Air Pollution in Dwellings Located in Southern Poland—A Preliminary Study
by Ewa Brągoszewska, Magdalena Bogacka and Krzysztof Pikoń
Atmosphere 2020, 11(11), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11111255 - 21 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2840
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence shows that air pollution is responsible for several million premature deaths per year. By virtue of being responsible for these deaths, economic evidence shows that air pollution also imposes a so-called economic cost to society of several trillion dollars per year. [...] Read more.
Epidemiological evidence shows that air pollution is responsible for several million premature deaths per year. By virtue of being responsible for these deaths, economic evidence shows that air pollution also imposes a so-called economic cost to society of several trillion dollars per year. The diseases caused by biological air pollutants are of primary global concern for both social and economic reasons, and given that people may spend more than 90% of their time in enclosed spaces, the investigation into methods to remove indoor air pollutants is of paramount importance. One of the methods to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) is to use air cleaners (ACLs) with high-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) that remove biological indoor air pollutants from indoor environments. This work presents the results of a study of fungal aerosol samples collected during the summer season from inside two dwellings (DG1 and DG2) before and after starting the use of ACLs. The fungal aerosol samples collected from each of the six stages of the sampler were incubated on agar plates at 26 °C, and the colony forming units (CFU) were manually counted and statistically corrected. The concentration of living airborne fungi was expressed as the CFU in the volume of air (CFU·m−3). The average concentration of fungal aerosol decreased the most when the ACLs were active for 24 min. The reduction was from 474 CFU·m−3 to 306 CFU·m−3, and from 582 CFU·m−3 to 338 CFU·m−3 in DG1 and DG2, respectively. The use of ACLs was assessed by the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. This study highlights the benefits of controlling biological air pollutants in order to keep occupants of buildings happy and healthy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments)
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16 pages, 1057 KiB  
Article
Diversity of Bioaerosols in Selected Rooms of Two Schools and Antibiotic Resistance of Isolated Staphylococcal Strains (Bydgoszcz, Poland): A Case Study
by Marta Małecka-Adamowicz, Beata Koim-Puchowska and Ewa A. Dembowska
Atmosphere 2020, 11(10), 1105; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11101105 - 15 Oct 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2913
Abstract
The present study is aimed at evaluating microbiological air pollution in libraries, cafeterias and selected classrooms of two schools in Bydgoszcz city, northern Poland and determining the antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcal strains isolated from the indoor air. One of the investigated schools (School [...] Read more.
The present study is aimed at evaluating microbiological air pollution in libraries, cafeterias and selected classrooms of two schools in Bydgoszcz city, northern Poland and determining the antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcal strains isolated from the indoor air. One of the investigated schools (School A) is located in the very center of the city, in the vicinity of a park, among old houses and stone-lined streets, while the other (School B), among modern residential buildings, close to a street with heavy traffic. In each school, air samples were collected in the morning, always from all three sampling sites, using the MAS-100 sampler. Selective growth media were used for bacteria and mold isolation and quantifying analysis. The antibiotic resistance of the isolated mannitol-positive staphylococci was assessed using the disc diffusion method in accordance with EUCAST recommendations. The highest mean concentration of heterotrophic bacteria was recorded in the cafeterias: 884 CFU m−3 in School A and 1906 CFU m−3 in School B. Molds were the most abundant in the library and cafeteria in School B, where their average concentration exceeded 300 CFU m−3. Cladosporium and Penicillium species prevailed, while Fusarium, Acremonium and Aspergillus were less abundant. Airborne mannitol-positive staphylococci were recorded at low concentrations, ranging from 6 to 11 CFU m−3 on average. According to the taxonomic analysis, Staphylococcus aureus isolates were the most abundant in both schools, followed by S. xylosus, S. haemolyticus and S. saprophyticus. The antibiograms indicated that resistance to erythromycin was common in 62.5% of the isolated staphylococcal strains. Levofloxacin and gentamicin were the most effective antibiotics. No multidrug-resistant strains were identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments)
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24 pages, 6517 KiB  
Article
Microclimate in Rooms Equipped with Decentralized Façade Ventilation Device
by Ewa Zender-Świercz
Atmosphere 2020, 11(8), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11080800 - 29 Jul 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2962
Abstract
Many building are characterized by insufficient air exchange, which may result in the symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS). A large number of existing buildings are equipped with natural ventilation, whose work is disturbed by activities going to energy-saving. The thermomodernization activities are [...] Read more.
Many building are characterized by insufficient air exchange, which may result in the symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS). A large number of existing buildings are equipped with natural ventilation, whose work is disturbed by activities going to energy-saving. The thermomodernization activities are about mounting new sealed windows and laying thermal isolation, which reduces the amount of infiltrating/exfiltrating air. In many cases, the mechanical ventilation cannot be used due to a lack of a place in building or architectural and construction requirements. One of the solutions to improve the indoor microclimate is the decentralized façade ventilation. In the article, the internal air parameters in an office room equipped with decentralized façade ventilation device were analyzed. The room was equipped with a decentralized façade unit, which cyclically supplied and removed air from the room. The time of the supply/exhaust was changed to 2 min, 4 min, and 10 min. The temperature and the humidity of the indoor air and the outdoor air and the concentration of carbon dioxide inside the room were measured. The analysis showed that despite the lack of a heater in the device, the air temperature in the workplace and in the central point of the room was in the range of 20–22 °C. The air humidity was in the range of 27–43%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments)
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13 pages, 1038 KiB  
Article
Microbiological Air Quality in a Highschool Gym Located in an Urban Area of Southern Poland—Preliminary Research
by Ewa Brągoszewska, Izabela Biedroń and Anna Mainka
Atmosphere 2020, 11(8), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11080797 - 29 Jul 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3645
Abstract
The benefits of regular exercise include improved physical and mental health. The school gym is a particular micro-environment where students perform intensive physical training. The question is if there is an increased risk of microbiological contamination. This preliminary work studied the exposure of [...] Read more.
The benefits of regular exercise include improved physical and mental health. The school gym is a particular micro-environment where students perform intensive physical training. The question is if there is an increased risk of microbiological contamination. This preliminary work studied the exposure of students to bacterial aerosol (BA) in a highschool gym located in an urban area of Southern Poland. A sampling of BA was undertaken with an Andersen six-stage impactor (ANDI). BA was identified using API (analytical profile index) tests. The BA concentrations were expressed as Colony Forming Units (CFU) per cubic metre of air. The results showed that before gym classes (BGC), the concentration of BA was 4.20 × 102 ± 49.19 CFU/m3, while during gym classes (DGC), the level of BA more than doubled (8.75 × 102 ± 121.39 CFU/m3). There was also an increase in the respirable fraction of BA (particles less than 3.3 µm). Before the start of the sports activities, respirable fraction accounted for 30% of the BA, while during physical education classes, this share increased to over 80%. Identification of BA species showed that the dominant group of bacteria in the indoor air of the gym BGC was Gram-positive rods (61%) and for DGC it was Gram-positive cocci (81%). We detected that one bacteria strain (Corynebacterium striatum) was classified into risk group 2 (RG2) according to Directive 2000/54/EC. Additionally, multi-antibiotic resistance (MAR) showed that among the isolated airborne bacteria, the highest antibiotic resistance was demonstrated by Staphylococcus epidermis (isolated DGC) and Pseudomonas sp. (isolated BGC). The quantitative and qualitative information on microbiological air quality (MIAQ) in the school gym indicates that the actions to improve indoor physical activity spaces are recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments)
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12 pages, 1414 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Radiant Catalytic Ionization in Reduction of Enterococcus spp., Clostridioides difficile and Staphylococcus aureus in Indoor Air
by Krzysztof Skowron, Katarzyna Grudlewska-Buda, Sylwia Kożuszko, Natalia Wiktorczyk, Karolina Jadwiga Skowron, Agnieszka Mikucka, Zuzanna Bernaciak and Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska
Atmosphere 2020, 11(7), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11070764 - 20 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3124
Abstract
(1) Background: An aerogenic way is one of main rout of spreading microorganisms (including antibiotic resistant), that cause healthcare-associated infections. The source of microorganisms in the air can be patients, personnel, visitors, outdoor air, hospital surfaces and equipment, and even sink drains. (2) [...] Read more.
(1) Background: An aerogenic way is one of main rout of spreading microorganisms (including antibiotic resistant), that cause healthcare-associated infections. The source of microorganisms in the air can be patients, personnel, visitors, outdoor air, hospital surfaces and equipment, and even sink drains. (2) Methods: The standardized suspensions (0.5 McFarland) of the examined strains (Enterococcus spp., Clostridioides difficile, Staphylococcus aureus) were nebulized in sterile chamber. Then the Induct 750 (ActivTek) device, generating RCI (radiant catalytic ionization) phenomenon, was used for 20 min. Next, the number of bacteria in the air was calculated using collision method. The percentage of reduction coefficient (R) was calculated. (3) Results: In case of enterococci, the R value was >90% and there are no statistically significant differences among tested strains. For C. difficile strains the R value range from 64–95%. The R value calculated for hypervirulent, antibiotic resistant CDI PCR 27 strain was statistically significantly lower than for other examined strains. For S. aureus non-MRSA the R value was 99.87% and for S. aurues MRSA the R value was 95.61%. (4) Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that the use of RCI may contribute to reducing the occurrence of dangerous pathogens in the air, and perhaps transmission and persistence in the hospital buildings environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects and Exposure Assessment to Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environments)
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