Characterization of bioaerosols associated with commuter transport micro-environments using high throughput sequencing
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Air quality inside commuter transport is an important public health issue. However, there is currently limited information on commuter exposure to the microbial fraction of airborne particles (i.e. bioaerosols) in different types of transport. Here we investigated the abundance and diversity of bioaerosols in public trains and private automobiles in the UK using molecular approaches. Overall, bacterial 16S rRNA gene abundances were significantly greater with the train (between 3.07×10 5 and 8.97×10 5 copies/m 3 ) compared to the car (between 4.21×10 4 and 4.78×10 5 copies/m 3 ) ( p -value 0.019 < 0.05), with no significant differences found with train journeys throughout the day ( p -value >0.05). In terms of microbial composition, significant differences were found between the two modes of transport, for both bacterial and fungal communities. Specifically, bacteria were dominated by Proteobacteria (trains: 37 %; cars: 30 %), Firmicutes (trains: 20 %; cars: 36 %), Actinobacteria (trains: 34 %; cars: 16 %) and Bacteroidetes (trains: 6.1 %; cars: 13 %). Within the fungi, Ascomycota were predominant in the train (80 %), while the car was dominated by Basidiomycota (70 %), which may be due to the time of year sampled. Additionally, a core bacterial and fungal microbiome, including human commensals and outdoor-originating micro-organisms, alongside several taxa of human health concern were found in the air of both modes of transport. This study provides an important insight into the aerosol microbiome in transport micro-environments, which is crucial for the evaluation of commuter exposure to potential health risks. • Currently there is a lack of data on the microbial fraction of airborne particles that commuters are exposed to. • High throughput sequencing was used to characterize the microbiome of bioaerosols inside trains and automobiles in the UK. • Distinct bacterial and fungal communities were found in the air with both modes of transport, especially with fungi. • Airborne microbial taxa of human health concern were found with both modes of transport. • Choice of commuter transport has a potentially significant impact on the aerosol microbiome that passengers are exposed to.
Authors: N. Grydaki, I. Colbeck, C. Whitby
Institution: University of Essex
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,990
OpenAlex ID: W4404608016