Exposure to Airborne Noroviruses and Other Bioaerosol Components at a Wastewater Treatment Plant in Denmark

Exposure to bioaerosols associated with wastewater treatment processes may represent an occupational health risk for workers at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A high frequency of acute symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract among the wastewater workers at a Danish WWTP has been reported. The objective of the study was therefore to examine the exposure of the workers to aerosolised microorganisms. Sampling of inhalable endotoxin, bacteria, moulds and viruses was performed on one occasion using personal samplers. Noroviruses (NoVs) and endotoxin were detected at concentrations that could pose an occupational health risk and possibly contribute to the increased frequency of gastrointestinal illness among the workers and should therefore be investigated further. In addition, positive correlations between exposure to endotoxin, bacteria, moulds and NoVs were found and indicate that the exposure to bioaerosols may be related to work tasks. This is the first study directly showing an occupational exposure to airborne NoVs by its detection in airborne dust.     

Characterization of the airborne bacteria community at different distances from the rotating brushes in a wastewater treatment plant by 16S rRNA gene clone libraries

Biological risks of bioaerosols emitted from wastewater treatment processes have attracted wide attention in the recent years. However, the culture-based analysis method has been mostly adopted for detecting the bacterial community in bioaerosols, which may result in the underestimation of total microorganism concentration as not all microorganisms are cultivable. In this study, oligonucleotide fingerprinting of 16S rRNA genes was applied to reveal the composition and structure of the bacterial community in bioaerosols from an Orbal oxidation ditch in a Beijing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Bioaerosols were collected at different distances from the aerosol source, rotating brushes, and the sampling height was 1.5 m which is the common respiratory height of a human being. The bacterial communities of bioaerosols were diverse, and the lowest bacterial diversity was found at the sampling site just after the rotating brush rotating brush. A large proportion of bacteria in bioaerosols were affiliated with Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Numerous bacteria present in the bioaerosols also emerged in water, indicating that the bacterial community in the bioaerosols was related to that of the aerosols’ sources. The forced aeration of rotating brushes brought about observably distinct bacterial communities between sampling sites situated before and after the rotating brush. Isolation sources of closest relatives in bioaerosols clone libraries were associated with the aqueous environment in the WWTP. Common potential pathogens in bioaerosols as well as those not reported in previous research were also analyzed in this study. Measures should be adopted to reduce the emission of bioaerosols and prevent their exposure to workers.     

Sulfur dioxide and o-xylene co-treatment in biofilter: Performance, bacterial populations and bioaerosols emissions

Sulfur dioxide(SO_2) and benzene homologs are frequently present in the off-gas during the process of sewage sludge drying. A laboratory scale biofilter was set up to co-treat SO_2 and o-xylene in the present study. SO_2 and o-xylene could be removed simultaneously in a single biofilter. Their concentration ratio in the inlet stream influenced the removal efficiencies. It is worth noting that the removal of SO_2 could be enhanced when low concentrations of o-xylene were introduced into the biofilter. Pseudomonas sp., Paenibacillus sp., and Bacillus sp. were the main functional bacteria groups in the biofilter. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria(SOB) and o-xylene-degrading bacteria(XB) thrived in the biofilter and their counts as well as their growth rate increased with the increase in amount of SO_2 and o-xylene supplied. The microbial populations differed in counts and species due to the properties and components of the compounds being treated in the biofilter. The presence of mixed substrates enhanced the diversity of the microbial population. During the treatment process, bioaerosols including potentially pathogenic bacteria, e.g., Acinetobacter lwoffii and Aeromonas sp., were emitted from the biofilter. Further investigation is needed to focus on the potential hazards caused by the bioaerosols emitted from waste gas treatment bioreactors.     

Molecular approaches for the detection and monitoring of microbial communities in bioaerosols: A review

Bioaerosols significantly affect atmospheric processes while they undergo long-range vertical and horizontal transport and influence atmospheric chemistry and physics and climate change. Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to bioaerosols may cause adverse health effects, including severe disease. Studies of bioaerosols have primarily focused on their chemical composition and largely neglected their biological composition and the negative effects of biological composition on ecosystems and human health. Here, current molecular methods for the identification, quantification, and distribution of bioaerosol agents are reviewed. Modern developments in environmental microbiology technology would be favorable in elucidation of microbial temporal and spatial distribution in the atmosphere at high resolution. In addition, these provide additional supports for growing evidence that microbial diversity or composition in the bioaerosol is an indispensable environmental aspect linking with public health.     

Climate change, aerobiology, and public health in the Northeast United States

The epidemiological implications with respect to climate change and public health (e.g., shifts in disease vectors) are beginning to be acknowledged. Less recognized however, are the potential links between climate, plant biology and public health. In addition to being affected by climate (e.g., temperature determines plant range), carbon dioxide (CO₂) represents the raw material needed for photosynthesis and its rapid increase in the atmosphere is expected to stimulate plant growth. While there are a number of means by which plant biology intersects with human health (e.g., plant nutrition), one of the most widely recognized is aerobiology; specifically, the ability of plants to both produce pollen and to serve as a substrate for molds/fungi (e.g., sporulation). The current review represents an initial attempt to coalesce what is known regarding the likely impacts of climate/CO₂ on plant pollen/fungal spores and associated allergic disease that are, or could be, specific to the Northeast United States. Although the current results indicate a number of potentially unfavorable effects, we wish to stress that the current data are based on a small number of experiments. Additional data are crucial to both reduce epidemiological uncertainty and to derive a robust set of mitigation / adaptation strategies.     

Production and characterization of bioaerosols for model validation in spacecraft environment

This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of two bioaerosol generation systems(dry and wet generation) for the aerosolization of microorganisms isolated from the International Space Station, and to calibrate the produced bioaerosols to fulfill the requirements of computational fluid dynamics model(CFD) validation. Concentration, stability, size distribution, agglomeration of generated bioaerosol and deposition of bioaerosols were analyzed. In addition, the dispersion of non-viable particles in the air was studied.Experiments proved that wet generation from microbial suspensions could be used for the production of well-calibrated and stabile bioaerosols for model validation. For the simulation of the natural release of fungal spores, a dry generation method should be used. This study showed that the used CFD model simulated the spread of non-viable particles fairly well. The mathematical deposition model by Lai and Nazaroff could be used to estimate the deposition velocities of bioaerosols on surfaces, although it somewhat underestimated the measured deposition velocities.     

全球饮用水标准中消毒副产物管控指标对比与启示

饮用水水质安全是关乎千家万户的重大民生问题,其中消毒工艺是保障饮用水微生物安全不可或缺的重要措施,然而由消毒剂与前体物反应生成的DBPs（消毒副产物）被发现具有潜在的健康风险,如致癌及引起发育副作用等.随着对饮用水中DBPs的重视程度不断提高,世界上多个国家、地区或组织将DBPs指标纳入标准.为对我国饮用水水质标准中DBPs指标的制定和修订提出可参考的建议,比较了国内外饮用水和再生水饮用回用水质标准中的DBPs指标,包括DBPs种类、对应的浓度限值和监测要求等.结果表明:①我国饮用水水质标准中涵盖的DBPs种类较多,其中地方标准相较于国标而言对DBPs指标的要求更为严格,但较少考虑综合性指标（如总有机卤素）和高毒性含氮DBPs（如卤乙腈）;②国外多部饮用水水质标准或准则中包含一些无浓度限值规定但已知具有较高健康风险的DBPs,此举可指导有关部门进一步开展浓度调研和毒性试验,为未来水质标准的制定提供参考依据.研究显示,我国饮用水标准中DBPs指标需要考虑综合性指标的选取与管控以及高风险指标的甄别和筛查,另外还需因地制宜加强地方性标准的建设工作.      

Molecular characterization of microbial communities in bioaerosols of a coal mine by 454 pyrosequencing and real-time PCR

Microbial diversity and abundance in bioaerosols of a coal mine were analyzed based on 454 pyrosequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). A total of 37,191 high quality sequences were obtained and could be classified into 531, 1730 and 448 operational taxonomic units respectively for archaea, bacteria and fungi at 97% sequence similarity. The Shannon diversity index for archaea, bacteria and fungi was respectively 4.71, 6.29 and 3.86, indicating a high diversity in coal mine bioaerosols. Crenarchaeota, Proteobacteria and Ascomycota were the dominant phyla for archaea, bacteria and fungi, respectively. The concentrations of total archaea, bacteria and fungi were 1.44 × 108, 1.02 × 108 and 9.60 × 104cells/m3, respectively.Methanotrophs observed in bioaerosols suggested possible methane oxidation in the coal mine. The identified potential pathogens to coal miners, such as Acinetobacter schindleri,Aeromonas cavernicola, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus penicillioides, Cladosporium cladosporioides,and Penicillium brevicompactum were also observed. This was the first investigation of microbial diversity and abundance in coal mine bioaerosols. The investigation of microbial communities would be favorable in promoting the progress of methane control based on microbial technique and concern on coal miners’ health.     

环境中挥发性有机物监测及分析方法

挥发性有机物(VOCs)是一类重要的环境污染物,严重威胁着环境和人类健康。随着VOCs问题的日趋突出,关于VOCs监测技术的研究也越来越多,检测技术逐渐完善。本文对大气中VOCs的监测技术进行了详细的综述,重点介绍了气相色谱-质谱、高效液相色谱等离线检测方法和质子转移反应质谱法在线监测方法。此外,本文分析了各种采样方法及仪器检测技术的优势与不足,旨在为大气VOCs的监测与研究起到一定的指导作用。     

The use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) in disinfection of airborne bacteria

Contamination of indoor air by microbial pollutants has been increasingly recognized as a public health problem, and may be responsible for building-related illness (BRI) and sick-building syndrome (SBS). Bioaerosols such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses in indoor air can cause allergic and irritant responses, infectious diseases, respiratory problems, and hypersensitivity reactions. People sensitive to indoor environmental problems complain of a wide variety of symptoms ranging from headache, fatigue, nausea, sinus congestion, to eye, nose, and throat irritations.Although ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) with a predominant wavelength of 254 nm has been used for air disinfection for many years to minimize microbial numbers in the air, few quantitative data are available on the radiation susceptibilities of individual airborne microbes. There have been a number of UVGI studies documenting the effectiveness of UVGI for the control of microbes in controlled settings. Many of these studies documented the effectiveness of UVGI against airborne tuberculosis organisms.The studies described here used commercial type fan-powered shielded UVGI-containing fixtures to evaluate their effectiveness in air disinfection. Aerosolization tests were done in the contained environment of a negative pressure bioaerosol stainless steel testing chamber 0.75 m wide·3.7 m long. The chamber was designed so that microbes could be safely aerosolized and contained while traversing the chamber through the UVGI-containing fix-tures. Four commercial (Purair UV Germicidal Systems, Mount Vernon, N.Y.) fan-powered UVGI-containing fix-tures placed in the chamber were individually evaluated for their ability to disinfect individual bioaerosols of air-borne bacteria.Air samples were taken at the inlet and outlet of the UVGI-containing units positioned in the bioaerosol chamber, using Ace Glass all-glass impingers (AGI-30). Five bacterial species were individually aerosolized to evaluate their kill. The bacteria used to test all of the UVGI-containing units were vegetative cells of Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus, and endospores of Bacillus subtilis. Based upon the concentration of bioaerosols collected at the inlet and outlet of the fixtures tested, the total overall microbial kills for the four fixtures with the filters in place and the UVGI units on were more than 99% for all the airborne vegetative bacteria tested, and a mean of over 75% for the B. subtilis endospores.All of the fixtures were efficient in the kill of the test vegetative bacteria used, even the more UVGI-resistant M. luteus vegetative cells and endospores of B. subtilis. Units such as these may provide an economical way to supplement existing air cleaning procedures used in indoor environments, and to kill airborne bacteria effectively without human exposure to UV light.     

蓝藻AOM特征与DBPs生成关系的研究进展

蓝藻水华期间,藻细胞因自然生长或受水处理工艺影响(如预氧化和混凝),会向水中释放大量藻源有机物(AOM),能够与氯消毒剂反应生成大量消毒副产物(DBPs),增加了饮用水安全风险.了解AOM的特征及其对DBPs生成的影响对于AOM的控制和饮用水安全保障至关重要.本文综述了蓝藻AOM的主要理化特征(溶解性有机碳、溶解性有机氮、亲疏水性、光学特性、分子量、化学结构)及其对饮用水处理过程中AOM的削减转化规律和DBPs生成的影响,并讨论了AOM前体表征技术在蓝藻水处理过程中追踪AOM变化和预测DBPs的应用前景,最后展望了未来的研究方向.     

SBR工艺城市污水处理厂微生物气溶胶逸散特征

在采用SBR工艺的某污水处理厂设置采样点,研究各污水处理工艺段微生物气溶胶的逸散特征.结果表明,各工艺段均有细菌气溶胶逸散,浓度为82～1 525 CFU·m~(-3),粗格栅、生化池和污泥脱水间为主要逸散源.各工艺段检测到的细菌气溶胶主要菌属为Cyanobacteria,其它丰度较高的菌属有Aeromonas、Peptostreptococcaceae、Moraxellaceae、Chroococcidiopsis、Sphingomonas、Arcobacter及Acinetobacter等,其中Aeromonas、Arcobacter、Acinetobacter及Sphingomonas为潜在致病菌.微生物气溶胶的浓度和丰度沿垂直方向和水平方向减少.适宜的温度和相对湿度利于微生物气溶胶在空气中保持活性(P 0. 01),风速则与微生物气溶胶的逸散呈负相关(P 0. 05).污水处理过程产生的微生物气溶胶的暴露风险较小(HQ 1),但是污染物的累积会增加人体的暴露风险.生物除臭反应器在处理臭味气体的同时还可以有效削减微生物气溶胶.     

Public acceptance of tree health management: Results of a national survey in the UK

Assumptions about public stakeholder attitudes to pest and disease management can influence the decisions of forest managers and NGOs involved in responding to pests and diseases; however, they are rarely assessed directly. Evidence on the social acceptability of tree health management methods is required to inform government led policy and management. A nationally representative survey of 2000 members of the UK public was used to address two research questions: (1) How acceptable are tree health management methods to the public? (2) How do opinions about woodland functions, concern and awareness of tree pests and diseases, and demographics influence acceptance of management methods? We found that public stakeholders are highly supportive of tree health management; however, knowledge about tree pests, diseases, and management options is low. Methods seen as more targeted and ‘natural’ were preferred, e.g. felling and burning only affected trees and using biological control rather than chemical control. There were demographic differences in attitudes: men and older people are more likely to support management interventions and stronger management methods than females and younger people. Acceptance of management can also differ according to location and local context (e.g. management is less supported when it may impact on wildlife) and values (e.g. those with economic values are more supportive of management). These findings provide evidence to support current government initiatives on tree health and should improve confidence amongst managers tasked with carrying out tree pest and disease management. However, there is a need for in-depth qualitative studies to explain the beliefs which influence demographic variations in acceptance and the influence of concepts such as ‘nativeness’ and ‘naturalness’.     

Effect of activated sludge treatment on the formation of Nnitrosamines under different chloramination conditions

Municipal wastewater discharge is considered as one of the main sources of N-nitrosamine precursors which can impact the qualities of downstream source waters and reclaimed wastewaters for potable reuse. NNitrosamine precursors can be removed to various degrees during biological wastewater treatment (e.g., the activated sludge (AS) process). So far, little is known about the impact of the AS process on N-nitrosamine formation under practical disinfection condition (e.g., uniform formation condition (UFC)). In this study, N-nitrosamine UFC from selected model compounds, sewage components (i.e., blackwaters and greywaters) and sewage samples were comprehensively investigated during batch AS treatment tests. NNitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation from the tested precursor compounds (i.e., trimethylamine (TMA) and sumatriptan (SMTR)) under UFC chloramination decreased mostly after 6 or 24 hr treatment with different types of AS (i.e., domestic rural AS, domestic urban AS, and textile AS), and the reductions in NDMA UFC were comparable to their NDMA formation potential (FP) reductions. In urine and feces blackwaters, NDMA UFC increased after 6 or 24 hr treatment with the domestic (i.e., rural and urban) AS, while NDMA FP decreased substantially. The increases in NDMA UFC after AS treatment was presumably attributed to the removal of bulk organic matters (e.g., dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) which favored NDMA formation under UFC. On the other hand, in laundry greywaters having relatively abundant DOC, N-nitrosamine UFC was less affected by DOC removal before or after AS treatment, but decreased to similar degrees with N-nitrosamine FP. In sewage samples collected from wastewater treatment plants, N-nitrosamines UFC tended to increase or remain constant during AS treatment, despite the decreases in their FPs. These results suggest that biological wastewater treatment (e.g., the AS process) may not effectively reduce N-nitrosamine formation (e.g., measured under UFC) partially because the concurrent removal of bulk organic matters (e.g., DOC) favored N-nitrosamine formation in s econdary effluents.     

青岛市不同空气质量下可培养生物气溶胶分布特征及影响因素

利用Andersen空气微生物采样器采集青岛市不同空气质量下的可培养生物气溶胶,分析了其浓度和粒径分布特征,并利用Spearman’s相关性分析了可培养生物气溶胶浓度和空气质量指数中的颗粒物质量浓度〔ρ(PM₁₀)、ρ(PM_2.5)〕、气体污染物质量浓度〔ρ(O₃)、ρ(SO₂)、ρ(NO₂)〕和气象参数(温度、相对湿度、风速)之间的关系.结果表明:可培养真菌和细菌气溶胶浓度范围分别为133～1 113和13～212 CFU/m3.真菌气溶胶浓度与ρ(SO₂)、ρ(PM₁₀)、ρ(PM_2.5)均呈正相关,而与相对湿度呈显著负相关(P<0.05).细菌气溶胶浓度与ρ(NO₂)、ρ(SO₂)呈负相关,而与ρ(O₃)、温度呈正相关.风速对可培养生物气溶胶浓度的影响较小.以AQI(空气质量指数)中ρ(PM₁₀)为依据,将研究时间段空气质量划分为4个空气污染等级.在不同污染等级下,真菌气溶胶均呈对数正态分布,粒径主要分布于2.1～4.7 μm.低污染时细菌气溶胶呈偏态分布(粒径>4.7 μm),高污染时粒径分布发生改变.初步推断,随着空气污染等级的升高,可培养生物(真菌+细菌)气溶胶总浓度增加,但单位颗粒物上的浓度变化较稳定.ρ(PM₁₀)是影响可培养生物气溶胶浓度及粒径分布的主要因素.      

Shadows and lights of GSCM (Green Supply Chain Management): determinants and effects of these practices based on a multi-national study

Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) is an increasingly widely-diffused practice among companies that are seeking to improve their environmental performance. The motivation for the introduction of GSCM may be ethical (e.g., reflecting the values of managers) and/or commercial (e.g., gaining a possible competitive advantage by signalling environmental concern). Drawing upon a database of over 4000 manufacturing facilities in seven OECD countries this paper assesses the determinants and motivations for the implementation of GSCM. We find that GSCM is strongly complementary with other advanced management practices, and that it contributes to improved environmental performance. The effects on commercial performance are more ambiguous.     

植物促生菌在重金属生物修复中的作用机制及应用

重金属污染是导致生态和环境退化的主要因素之一.土壤重金属污染会降低土壤质量、农作物产量和品质,甚至威胁人类健康.因此,优化土壤重金属污染治理措施,对于农业高产优质可持续具有重要意义.诸多国内外学者在重金属污染植物修复方面开展了大量研究,但由于受土壤和气候环境条件的影响,其修复效率受到制约.微生物与植物的协同修复被认为是环境胁迫条件下提高重金属污染修复效率的一种有效手段.耐重金属的植物促生细菌（PGPB）不仅可以促进植物生长,提高对生物胁迫（如病原菌）和非生物胁迫（如干旱、高盐、极端温度和重金属等）的抗性,还可以改变土壤中重金属的生物利用度和毒性,从而提高植物对重金属的修复效率.系统地梳理了耐重金属的PGPB在促进植物生长,增强植物抗逆性和影响重金属生物利用度方面的作用机制,并进一步综述了近年来国内外关于PGPB在生态修复中的应用和研究进展.     

西安市不同天气下可培养微生物气溶胶浓度变化特征

为探明天气状况对可培养微生物气溶胶分布特性的影响,于2014年8月-2015年7月利用Anderson六级空气微生物采样器对西安市微生物气溶胶进行采样,通过培养法检测分析了可培养细菌和真菌气溶胶在1 a的月际与季节性浓度变化特征,重点研究了不同天气状况下气溶胶的浓度与粒径分布.结果表明:西安市可培养细菌和真菌气溶胶月均浓度均在10月最高,分别为（1 004.81±546.14）和（765.54±544.36）CFU/m3.可培养细菌和真菌气溶胶的季节平均浓度均在夏季最低,分别为（361.96±56.96）和（280.33±74.43）CFU/m3;不同天气条件下气溶胶的浓度变化为晴天 < 雨天 < 阴云天 < 霾天.可培养细菌气溶胶在晴天、阴云天、雨天和霾天粒径分布的峰值分别出现在3.3~4.7、4.7~7.0、3.3~4.7、3.3~4.7 μm区间上,表现为明显的单峰分布;而可培养真菌气溶胶的粒径分布在非霾天则无显著性差异（P>0.05）.不同天气状况下可呼吸微生物气溶胶均超过总微生物气溶胶的60%.各天气状况下可培养细菌气溶胶的几何中值直径大于真菌气溶胶.      

西安市秋冬季不同空气质量下可培养微生物气溶胶浓度和粒径分布

利用Anderson空气微生物采样器对西安市2014年9月~2015年1月间可培养微生物气溶胶进行采样、培养,分析不同空气质量下其浓度与粒径变化特征,并对其与颗粒污染物(PM_(2.5)、PM_(10))、气象参数(温度、相对湿度)和其它气态污染物(NO_2、SO_2、O_3)进行主成分+多元线性回归分析.结果显示,可培养细菌和真菌气溶胶浓度范围分别为97~1 909CFU·m~(-3),92~1 737 CFU·m~(-3).随空气污染程度加深,两种微生物气溶胶浓度均呈现增加趋势;细菌气溶胶粒径分布向粗颗粒偏移;而真菌气溶胶在低污染时呈正态分布,高污染时粒径峰值向细颗粒偏移.主成分分析结果显示,可培养微生物气溶胶主要与灰霾、太阳辐射和相对湿度有关.多元线性回归结果表明,细菌气溶胶与灰霾呈显著正相关(P0.05),与太阳辐射呈不显著负相关,与湿度呈不显著正相关;真菌气溶胶与灰霾、太阳辐射和相对湿度均呈不显著正相关.研究结果可以为评估微生物气溶胶所引起的环境与健康效应提供基础数据.     

Accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in breast milk of women from an e-waste recycling center in China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) can be transferred to infants through the ingestion of breast milk, resulting in potential health risk. In this study, PBDEs, hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers(OH-PBDEs) and 2,2′,4,4′,5,6′-hexachlorobiphenyl(CB-153)in human milk from women living adjacent to e-waste recycling sites of Wenling,China, were investigated. The median level of PBDEs in samples from residents living in the e-waste recycling environment 20 years(R_20group, 19.5 ng/g lipid weight(lw))was significantly higher than that for residents living in Wenling 3 years(R_3group,3.88 ng/g lw)(p 0.05), likely ascribable to specific exposure to PBDEs from e-waste recycling activities. In the R_20 group, most congeners(except for BDE-209) were correlated with each other(p 0.05). Moreover, CB-153 showed significant association with most PBDE congeners, rather than BDE-209. The relationship indicated that most BDE congeners other than BDE-209 shared common sources and/or pathways with CB-153, e.g., dietary ingestion. The correlations between BDE-209 and other congeners were different in the two groups, likely suggesting their different exposure sources and/or pathways for PBDEs.Although estimated dietary intake of PBDEs for infants via breast milk was lower than the minimum value affecting human health, the PBDE exposure of infants should be of great concern because of their potential effect on the development of neonates over long-term exposure. OH-PBDEs were not detected in the collected samples, which is in accordance with reports in published literature, likely indicating that they were not apt to be accumulated in human milk.