Legionella and Air Transport: A Study of Environmental Contamination

Michele Treglia, Margherita Pallocci, Giorgio Ricciardi Tenore, Paola Castellani, Fabrizio Pizzuti, Giovanna Bianco, Pierluigi Passalacqua, Lucilla De Luca, Claudia Zanovello, Daniela Mazzuca, Santo Gratteri, Agostino Messineo, Giuseppe Quintavalle and Luigi Tonino Marsella
Additional contact information
Michele Treglia: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Margherita Pallocci: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Giorgio Ricciardi Tenore: APSSP-Prevention, Safety & Health Association, Velletri, 00049 Rome, Italy
Paola Castellani: APSSP-Prevention, Safety & Health Association, Velletri, 00049 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Pizzuti: APSSP-Prevention, Safety & Health Association, Velletri, 00049 Rome, Italy
Giovanna Bianco: APSSP-Prevention, Safety & Health Association, Velletri, 00049 Rome, Italy
Pierluigi Passalacqua: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Lucilla De Luca: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Claudia Zanovello: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Daniela Mazzuca: Department of Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Santo Gratteri: Department of Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Agostino Messineo: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Quintavalle: Fondazione Policlinico “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Luigi Tonino Marsella: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-10

Abstract: Introduction: There is growing interest in the public health and transport sectors in research into exposure to biological hazards, considering not only the risks arising from inter-human contagion, but also those related to exposure to the flight environment itself. The aim of this paper is to report data from an investigation into the water and air-conditioning systems of commercial aircraft for the presence of Legionella contamination, with a total of 645 water samples taken during the period 2007–2021. Methods: The investigation involved 126 aircraft of six different commercial aircraft types: MD80, Airbus A320 F, Embraer 175/190, AIRBUS A330, Boeing 767 and Boeing 777. Water samples were taken from the water systems (toilet taps, galley and boilers). Each sample was preliminarily subjected to an evaluation of the following parameters: temperature, pH and residual chlorine. The ScanVit ® Legionella kit was used for bacteria detection and enumeration. Results: Samples were considered positive if the number of colony-forming units/liter (CFU/L) was >100. For the entire observation period, 45% of the investigated aircraft tested positive. Regarding the overall number of samples analyzed, 68.4% (441/645) were below 100 CFU/L, and thus within the limits allowed by the Italian Guidelines. Conclusions: Water system contamination with Legionella in the air transport field is a real public health issue that should not be underestimated given the heavy passenger traffic. Infection should be considered an occupational risk to which crew members are exposed.

Keywords: Legionella pneumophila; air transport; microbiological risk assessment; environmental contamination; public health; occupational risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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