Urban enhancement of PM10 bioaerosol tracers relative to background locations in the Midwestern United States

Chathurika M Rathnayake; Nervana Metwali; Zach Baker; Thilina Jayarathne; Pamela A Kostle; Peter S Thorne; Patrick T O'Shaughnessy; Elizabeth A Stone

doi:10.1002/2015JD024538

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Urban enhancement of PM10 bioaerosol tracers relative to background locations in the Midwestern United States

Chathurika M Rathnayake, Nervana Metwali, Zach Baker, Thilina Jayarathne, Pamela A Kostle, Peter S Thorne, Patrick T O'Shaughnessy and Elizabeth A Stone

Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres, Vol.121(9), pp.5071-5089

05/16/2016

DOI: 10.1002/2015JD024538

PMCID: PMC5034947

PMID: 27672535

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Abstract

Bioaerosols are well‐known immune‐active particles that exacerbate respiratory diseases. Human exposures to bioaerosols and their resultant health impacts depend on their ambient concentrations, seasonal and spatial variation, and copollutants, which are not yet widely characterized. In this study, chemical and biological tracers of bioaerosols were quantified in respirable particulate matter (PM10) collected at three urban and three background sites in the Midwestern United States across four seasons in 2012. Endotoxins from Gram‐negative bacteria (and a few Gram‐positive bacteria), water‐soluble proteins, and tracers for fungal spores (fungal glucans, arabitol, and mannitol) were ubiquitous and showed significant seasonal variation and dependence on temperature. Fungal spores were elevated in spring and peaked in summer, following the seasonal growing cycle, while endotoxins peaked in autumn during the row crop harvesting season. Paired comparisons of bioaerosols in urban and background sites revealed significant urban enhancements in PM10, fungal glucans, endotoxins, and water‐soluble proteins relative to background locations, such that urban populations have a greater outdoor exposure to bioaerosols. These bioaerosols contribute, in part, to the urban excesses in PM10. Higher bioaerosol mass fractions in urban areas relative to background sites indicate that urban areas serve as a source of bioaerosols. Similar urban enhancements in water‐soluble calcium and its correlation with bioaerosol tracers point toward windblown soil as an important source of bioaerosols in urban areas. Key Points PM10, fungal glucans, bacterial endotoxins, and proteins are significantly enhanced in urban areas Enhanced bioaerosol mass fractions point to urban areas as a source of some bioaerosol types Correlations with calcium imply that dust and soil are major sources of bioaerosols in urban areas

PM10

Iowa

fungal spore

urban

protein

endotoxin

Details

Title: Subtitle: Urban enhancement of PM10 bioaerosol tracers relative to background locations in the Midwestern United States
Creators: Chathurika M Rathnayake - University of Iowa
Nervana Metwali - University of Iowa
Zach Baker - University of Iowa
Thilina Jayarathne - University of Iowa
Pamela A Kostle - University of Iowa
Peter S Thorne - University of Iowa
Patrick T O'Shaughnessy - University of Iowa
Elizabeth A Stone - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres, Vol.121(9), pp.5071-5089
DOI: 10.1002/2015JD024538
PMID: 27672535
PMCID: PMC5034947
NLM abbreviation: J Geophys Res Atmos
ISSN: 2169-897X
eISSN: 2169-8996
Number of pages: 19
Grant note: Environmental Health Sciences Research Center (EHSRC) (NIH P30 ES005605) University of Iowa
Language: English
Date published: 05/16/2016
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9983997322602771

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