Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar; Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar.
Environ Res. 2024 Dec 1;262(Pt 2):119879. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119879. Epub 2024 Sep 5.
The airborne microbiome significantly influences human health and atmospheric processes within Earth's troposphere and is a crucial focus for scientific research. This study aimed to analyze the composition, diversity, distribution, and spatiotemporal characteristics of airborne microbes in Qatar's ambient air. Air samples were collected using a sampler from ten geographically or functionally distinct locations during a period of one year. Spatial and seasonal variations significantly impacted microbial concentrations, with the highest average concentrations observed at 514 ± 77 CFU/m for bacteria over the dry-hot summer season and 134 ± 31 CFU/m for fungi over the mild winter season. Bacterial concentrations were notably high in 80% of the locations during the dry-hot summer sampling period, while fungal concentrations peaked in 70% of the locations during winter. The microbial diversity analysis revealed several health-significant bacteria including the genera Chryseobacterium, Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Proteus, Myroides, Yersinia, Pasteurella, Ochrobactrum, Vibrio, and fungal strains relating to the genera Aspergillus, Rhizopus Fusarium, and Penicillium. Detailed biochemical and microscopic analyses were employed to identify culturable species. The strongest antibiotic resistance (ABR) was observed during the humid-hot summer season, with widespread resistance to Metronidazole. Health risk assessments based on these findings indicated potential risks associated with exposure to high concentrations of specific bioaerosols. This study provides essential baseline data on the natural background concentrations of bioaerosols in Qatar, offering insights for air quality assessments and forming a basis for public health policy recommendations, particularly in arid regions.
空气中的微生物组对人类健康和地球对流层中的大气过程有重大影响，是科学研究的关键焦点。本研究旨在分析卡塔尔环境空气中空气传播微生物的组成、多样性、分布和时空特征。使用采样器在一年期间从十个地理位置或功能不同的地点采集空气样本。空间和季节性变化显著影响微生物浓度，细菌的平均浓度最高，在干燥炎热的夏季为 514 ± 77 CFU/m，真菌的平均浓度最高，在温和的冬季为 134 ± 31 CFU/m。在干燥炎热的夏季采样期间，80%的地点细菌浓度显著升高，而真菌浓度在冬季 70%的地点达到峰值。微生物多样性分析显示了几种与健康相关的重要细菌，包括 Chryseobacterium、Pseudomonas、Pantoea、Proteus、Myroides、Yersinia、Pasteurella、Ochrobactrum、Vibrio 和与 Aspergillus、Rhizopus、Fusarium 和 Penicillium 属相关的真菌菌株。详细的生化和显微镜分析用于鉴定可培养物种。在潮湿炎热的夏季观察到最强的抗生素抗性（ABR），对甲硝唑广泛耐药。基于这些发现的健康风险评估表明，与暴露于高浓度特定生物气溶胶相关的潜在风险。本研究提供了卡塔尔空气生物气溶胶自然背景浓度的基本基准数据，为空气质量评估提供了见解，并为制定公共卫生政策建议奠定了基础，特别是在干旱地区。
