Work

Microbiological assessment of bioaerosols in the residential areas of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Bioaerosols are biological particles that originate in the air and have a great impact on air pollution, affecting human health and ecosystems. Bioaerosols can contribute to the composition of PM10. The PM10 consists of bacterial and fungal strains and spores, viruses, pollen, and other organic matter. So, the research work investigated particulate matter (PM10) in terms of microbiological characteristics and correlation of bacterial populations with PM10, as well as assessing the antibiotic resistance of microbial isolates residing in PM10. The study was performed in six different locations (Badda, Chittagong Road, Basabo, Jurain, Mirpur, and Gulshan) of Dhaka city based on residential and commercially important areas, traffic congestion, and infrastructure development. The microbiological study revealed that Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were primarily present in PM10. These presumptively identified Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were confirmed by the commercial API 50 CHB and API Staph kit. The study also revealed that the total bacterial count (46585±1226.8 CFU/m3) of the Badda zone is higher than in another area. Similar findings were also observed in the case of Bacillus spp. (15625±5729 CFU/m3), Staphylococcus spp. (18518±5730 CFU/m3) and total fungal count (726852± 98209 CFU/m3). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed among Bacillus spp. Staphylococcus spp. Vs mean PM10 concentration, which implies that airborne microbes in Dhaka city are likely to propagate with the increase of dust concentration. However, the antibiotic sensitivity assay of Bacillus spp and Staphylococcus spp. revealed that all the Bacillus spp. (n=16) and Staphylococcus spp. (n=3) were resistant to Ceftazidime (30 µg), Oxacillin (1 µg) and Cefixime (5 µg). So, the research findings highlighted the increased levels of Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. than the international standard in PM10 of Dhaka city, suggesting potential health risks and indicating antibiotic resistance among these bacterial strains. These findings emphasize the urgency of comprehensive measures to control the microbiological hazard to reduce the airborne diseases.

Source: The Microbe

DOI: 10.1016/j.microb.2024.100188