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Outdoor and Indoor Biological Air Quality and Public Health
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Outdoor and Indoor Biological Air Quality and Public Health

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2020) | Viewed by 6502

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roberto Albertini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
2. Internal Medicine of Continuity, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
Interests: aerobiology; biological air quality; operating theatres; clean-room; cultural heritage; pollen; fungal spores
Dr. Michel Thibaudon

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Pharmacist, Aerobiologist and Microbiologist. RNSA (Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, France) and ASPEC (Association for Study and Prevention of Contamination)
Interests: aerobiology, air quality, clean-room, pollen, fungal spores, etc.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

One of the most important problems for indoor and outdoor environment is air pollution. Most studies are dedicated to chemical or physical parameters, and only limited studies focus on biological pollutants as indicators of air quality related to humans and animal health or to artefacts biodeterioration. Biological contaminants include pollen allergens, mould, bacteria, viruses, animal dander, house dust, mites, algae, etc. Indoor environments can even be more problematic considering time spent in living and working environments or the features of specific environments such as pharmaceutical clean-rooms, operating theaters, museums, etc. There are many sources of biological pollutants: some originate from plants, others are transmitted or carried by people and animals or derive from soil and water. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning devices can become breeding grounds for many biological contaminants and can then contribute to their spread. Most biological pollutants are small enough to be inhaled, triggering respiratory allergic reactions, infectious illnesses, or toxic diseases. Children, elderly people and patients with breathing problems, allergies, and lung diseases are particularly susceptible to disease-causing biological agents. Worldwide, there are outdoor monitoring networks that study the spread of fungal spores and pollen. Recently, real-time sampling systems have been developed. Still, much remains to be done to define sampling standards or thresholds values for biological airborne pollutants. This Special Issue could provide a synthesis of these topics and a useful tool to propose targeted preventive measures. The keywords listed below provide an outline of some of the possible areas of interest.

Dr. Roberto Albertini
Dr. Michel Thibaudon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Aerobiology
  • Biological air quality
  • Allergens
  • Microorganisms and viruses
  • Pollen
  • VOCs
  • Sampling and monitoring
  • Survey networks
  • Modelling and forecasting
  • Public health
  • Preventive measures.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 11016 KiB  
Article
Atmospheric Biodetection Part I: Study of Airborne Bacterial Concentrations from January 2018 to May 2020 at Saclay, France
by Roland Sarda-Estève, Dominique Baisnée, Benjamin Guinot, Gediminas Mainelis, John Sodeau, David O’Connor, Jean Pierre Besancenot, Michel Thibaudon, Sara Monteiro, Jean-Eudes Petit and Valérie Gros
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176292 - 28 Aug 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2819
Abstract
Background: The monitoring of bioaerosol concentrations in the air is a relevant endeavor due to potential health risks associated with exposure to such particles and in the understanding of their role in climate. In this context, the atmospheric concentrations of bacteria were measured [...] Read more.
Background: The monitoring of bioaerosol concentrations in the air is a relevant endeavor due to potential health risks associated with exposure to such particles and in the understanding of their role in climate. In this context, the atmospheric concentrations of bacteria were measured from January 2018 to May 2020 at Saclay, France. The aim of the study was to understand the seasonality, the daily variability, and to identify the geographical origin of airborne bacteria. Methods: 880 samples were collected daily on polycarbonate filters, extracted with purified water, and analyzed using the cultivable method and flow cytometry. A source receptor model was used to identify the origin of bacteria. Results: A tri-modal seasonality was identified with the highest concentrations early in spring and over the summer season with the lowest during the winter season. Extreme changes occurred daily due to rapid changes in meteorological conditions and shifts from clean air masses to polluted ones. Conclusion: Our work points toward bacterial concentrations originating from specific seasonal-geographical ecosystems. During pollution events, bacteria appear to rise from dense urban areas or are transported long distances from their sources. This key finding should drive future actions to better control the dispersion of potential pathogens in the air, like persistent microorganisms originating from contaminated areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor and Indoor Biological Air Quality and Public Health)
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14 pages, 1410 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Surgical Staff Behavior on Air Quality in a Conventionally Ventilated Operating Theatre during a Simulated Arthroplasty: A Case Study at the University Hospital of Parma
by Cesira Pasquarella, Carla Balocco, Maria Eugenia Colucci, Elisa Saccani, Samuel Paroni, Lara Albertini, Pietro Vitali and Roberto Albertini
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(2), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020452 - 10 Jan 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3334
Abstract
Surgical staff behavior in operating theatres is one of the factors associated with indoor air quality and surgical site infection risk. The aim of this study was to apply an approach including microbiological, particle, and microclimate parameters during two simulated surgical hip arthroplasties [...] Read more.
Surgical staff behavior in operating theatres is one of the factors associated with indoor air quality and surgical site infection risk. The aim of this study was to apply an approach including microbiological, particle, and microclimate parameters during two simulated surgical hip arthroplasties to evaluate the influence of staff behavior on indoor air quality. During the first hip arthroplasty, the surgical team behaved correctly, but in the second operation, behavioral recommendations were not respected. Microbiological contamination was evaluated by active and passive methods. The air velocity, humidity, temperature, and CO2 concentration were also monitored. The highest levels of microbial and particle contamination, as well as the highest variation in the microclimate parameter, were recorded during the surgical operation where the surgical team behaved “incorrectly”. Turbulent air flow ventilation systems appeared more efficient than in the past and very low air microbial contamination was reached when behavior was correct. Therefore, adherence to behavioral recommendations in operating theatres is essential to not undermine the effectiveness of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and employed resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor and Indoor Biological Air Quality and Public Health)
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