Biological Composition of Respirable Particulate Matter in an Industrial Vicinity in South Africa

Oyewale Mayowa Morakinyo, Matlou Ingrid Mokgobu, Murembiwa Stanley Mukhola and Tshifhiwa Godobedzha
Additional contact information
Oyewale Mayowa Morakinyo: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Matlou Ingrid Mokgobu: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Murembiwa Stanley Mukhola: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Tshifhiwa Godobedzha: Air Quality Management, Environment and Agriculture Management Department, City of Tshwane Municipality Private Bag 440, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: There is a growing concern that exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) with biological composition (bioaerosols) may play a key role in the prevalence of adverse health outcomes in humans. This study determined the bacterial and fungal concentrations in PM 2.5 and their inhalation health risks in an industrial vicinity in South Africa. Samples of PM 2.5 collected on a 47-mm glass fiber filter during winter and summer months were analysed for bacterial and fungal content using standard methods. The health risks from inhalation of bioaerosols were done by estimating the age-specific dose rate. The concentration of bacteria (168–378 CFU/m 3 ) was higher than fungi (58–155 CFU/m 3 ). Bacterial and fungal concentrations in PM 2.5 were lower in winter than in the summer season. Bacteria identified in summer were similar to those identified in winter: Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Flavobacterium sp., Klebsiella sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Moreover, the fungal floras identified include Cladosporium spp ., Aspergillus spp ., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp. and Alternaria spp. Children inhaled a higher dose of bacterial and fungal aerosols than adults. Bacteria and fungi are part of the bioaerosol components of PM 2.5. Bioaerosol exposure may present additional health risks for children.

Keywords: particulate matter; bioaerosols; air quality; dose rate; health effects; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/4/629/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/4/629/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:4:p:629-:d:207804

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().