Temporal and spatial changes in the microbial bioaerosol communities in green-waste composting
Louise J. Pankhurst
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorinne Whitby
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Search for more papers by this authorMark Pawlett
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorLee D. Larcombe
Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK;
Search for more papers by this authorBoyd McKew
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Search for more papers by this authorLewis J. Deacon
Environmental Planning and Sustainability Group, Mouchel, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSarah L. Morgan
Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK;
Search for more papers by this authorRaffaella Villa
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorGillian H. Drew
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSean Tyrrel
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSimon J.T. Pollard
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Frédéric Coulon
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Correspondence: Frédéric Coulon, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK. Tel.: +44 (0)1234 754 981; fax: +44(0)1234 751 671; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorLouise J. Pankhurst
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorinne Whitby
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Search for more papers by this authorMark Pawlett
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorLee D. Larcombe
Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK;
Search for more papers by this authorBoyd McKew
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Search for more papers by this authorLewis J. Deacon
Environmental Planning and Sustainability Group, Mouchel, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSarah L. Morgan
Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK;
Search for more papers by this authorRaffaella Villa
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorGillian H. Drew
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSean Tyrrel
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSimon J.T. Pollard
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Frédéric Coulon
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Correspondence: Frédéric Coulon, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK. Tel.: +44 (0)1234 754 981; fax: +44(0)1234 751 671; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
In this study, the microbial community within compost, emitted into the airstream, downwind and upwind from a composting facility was characterized and compared through phospholipid fatty acid analysis and 16S rRNA gene analysis using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and bar-coded pyrosequencing techniques. All methods used suggested that green-waste composting had a significant impact upon bioaerosol community composition. Daily variations of the on-site airborne community showed how specific site parameters such as compost process activity and meteorological conditions affect bioaerosol communities, although more data are required to qualify and quantify the causes for these variations. A notable feature was the dominance of Pseudomonas in downwind samples, suggesting that this genus can disperse downwind in elevated abundances. Thirty-nine phylotypes were homologous to plant or human phylotypes containing pathogens and were found within compost, on-site and downwind microbial communities. Although the significance of this finding in terms of potential health impact was beyond the scope of this study, it clearly illustrated the potential of molecular techniques to improve our understanding of the impact that green-waste composting emissions may have on the human health.
Supporting Information
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| fem1210-sup-0001-TableS1.docWord document, 167.5 KB | Table S1. Relative percentage sequence abundance of phylogenetic groups and bacterial phylotypes identified in each sample through 454 pyrosequencing. |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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