PM2.5-associated bacteria in ambient air: Is PM2.5 exposure associated with the acquisition of community-acquired staphylococcal infections?

• Published in: Journal of environmental health science and engineering Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 1007 - 1013
• Main Authors: Karimi, Hossein, Nikaeen, Mahnaz, Gholipour, Sahar, Hatamzadeh, Maryam, Hassanzadeh, Akbar, Hajizadeh, Yaghoub
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2020; BioMed Central Ltd; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Air pollution; Air temperature; Airborne bacteria; Airborne infection; Airborne microorganisms; Bacteria; Chemical compounds; Drug resistance; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Health; Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice; Health risks; Meteorological parameters; Methicillin; Microorganisms; Opportunist infection; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Quality of Life Research; Research Article; Semi arid areas; Staphylococcal infections; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus infections; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Wind speed; China; Airborne bacteria; Air pollution; PM
• ISSN: 2052-336X; 2052-336X
• DOI: 10.1007/s40201-020-00522-8

Particulate matter (PM), a major component of air pollution, is an important carrier medium of various chemical and microbial compounds. Air pollution due to PM could increase the level of bacteria and associated adverse health effects. Staphylococci as important opportunistic pathogens that cause hospital- and community-acquired infections may transmit through air. This study aimed to obtain knowledge about the concentration of airborne bacteria as well as staphylococci associated with particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5 ) in ambient air. The impact of meteorological factors including ultraviolet (UV) index, wind speed, temperature, and moisture on microbial concentrations was also investigated. Quartz filters were used to collect PM 2.5 and associated bacteria in ambient air of a semiarid area. Airborne bacteria were quantified by culture method and Staphylococcus species identified by molecular methods. The mean (SD) concentration of PM 2.5 and airborne bacteria was 64.83 (24.87) µg/m 3 and 38 (36) colony forming unit (CFU)/m 3 , respectively. The results showed no significant correlation between the levels of PM 2.5 and concentrations of bacteria (p < 0.05). Staphylococcus species were detected in 8 of 37 (22%) samples in a concentration from 3 to 213 CFU/m 3 . S. epidermidis was detected with the highest frequency followed by S. gallinarum and S. hominis , but S. aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were not detected. No significant correlation between the concentrations of bacteria with meteorological parameters was observed (p < 0.05). Our finding showed that, although the study area is sometimes subject to air pollution from PM 2.5 , the concentration of PM 2.5 - associated bacteria is relatively low. According to the results, PM 2.5 may not be a source of community-associated staphylococcal infections.