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Microorganisms associated particulate matter: a preliminary study.
Mansour A Alghamdi1, Magdy Shamy1, Maria Ana Redal2
1Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
The Science of the Total Environment
|February 25, 2014
Summary
This study assessed airborne microbes in Jeddah
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Air Quality
Background:
- Particulate matter (PM) poses health risks.
- Microbiological quality of PM is crucial for understanding health impacts.
- Urban air quality in Jeddah requires detailed microbiological assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the microbiological quality of PM10 and PM2.5 in Jeddah.
- To investigate relationships between airborne microbes, gaseous pollutants (O3, SO2, NO2), and meteorological factors.
- To identify common microbial types associated with PM.
Main Methods:
- Collected PM10 and PM2.5 using high-volume samplers and glass fiber filters.
- Cultured bacteria, fungi, and actinobacteria from PM using specific agar media.
- Analyzed correlations between microbial loads, gaseous pollutants, and meteorological parameters (temperature, RH, wind speed).
Main Results:
- Bacteria were more prevalent than fungi and actinobacteria in PM.
- Fungal species like Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger were identified.
- Temperature and wind speed showed significant correlations with PM and microbial loads.
- Ozone and SO2 exhibited negative correlations with PM concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Microbiological quality of PM in Jeddah is influenced by gaseous pollutants and meteorological factors.
- PM2.5 concentration is a significant determinant of fungal counts.
- Environmental factors play a role in the biological quality of airborne particulate matter.
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