Airborne bacterial species in indoor air and association with physical factors
- Anne Mette Madsen
(National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)
- Saloomeh Moslehi-Jenabian (National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)
- Mika Frankel (National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)
- John Kerr White
(National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)
- Margit W. Frederiksen
(National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark)
This is version 2 of this article, the published version can be found at: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000056
Abstract
The aim of this study is to obtain knowledge about which cultivable bacterial species are present in indoor air in homes, and whether the concentration and diversity of airborne bacteria are associated with different factors. Measurements have been performed for one whole year inside different rooms in five homes and once in 52 homes. Within homes, a room-to-room variation for concentrations of airborne bacteria was found, but an overlap in bacterial species was found across rooms. Eleven species were found very commonly and included: Acinetobacter lowffii, Bacillus megaterium, B. pumilus, Kocuria carniphila, K. palustris, K. rhizophila, Micrococcus flavus, M. luteus, Moraxella osloensis and Paracoccus yeei. The concentrations of Gram-negative bacteria in general and the species P. yeei were significantly associated with the season with the highest concentrations in spring. The concentrations of P. yeei, K. rhizophila and B. pumilus were associated positively with relative humidity (RH), and concentrations of K. rhizophila were associated negatively with temperature and air change rate (ACR). Micrococcus flavus concentrations were associated negatively with ACR. Overall, this study identified species which are commonly present in indoor air in homes, and that the concentrations of some species were associated with the factors: season, ACR and RH.Keywords: Bacillus megaterium, bacteria, exposure, home environment, indoor air, indoor humidity, MALDI-TOF MS, Paracoccus yeei, room-to-room variation, seasonality
Rights: © 2023 The Authors.