An experimental campaign shows a variety of biological particles in the air and opens possibilities for their regular monitoring
Observational campaign showed that bioaerosols can be observed and predicted on a regular basis, just like ozone or anthropogenic aerosols are observed. Photo: Adobe Stock.The bioaerosol campaign jointly conducted in 2021 by Finnish Meteorological Institute and Siauliai Academy of Vilnius University aimed at collecting detailed information on bioaerosols in Northern Europe, as well as at testing new methods of observing them in the air.
The campaign included a variety of devices working on different principles: holographic imaging of the flying particles, capturing their laser-induced fluorescence and sampling them on different media. Analysis was based on DNA analysis, machine-learning, and bioinformatic technologies, supported by atmospheric transport modelling to find out the origin of the observed biomasses.
The mid-March samples contained pollen and pieces of plants belonging to Magnoliopsida class, a wide set of flowering plants in Europe. A small fraction of fungal species was noticed in Siauliai but not, yet, in Helsinki. Bacteria were presented in a large variety already in late winter, but identification was biased towards human health and plant pathogens. Due to a lack of data about microbiome of the air, ~40% of the DNA reads remained unclassified.
Bioaerosols can be observed and predicted on a regular basis
Biogenic aerosol particles (bioaerosols) in the air include pollen from flowering plants, fungal spores, plant debris, bacteria, and viruses. They vary widely in size, from less than a micrometer and up to 100 micrometers or larger. Once released from surface biota, they can stay in the air for days travelling long distances and affecting wide areas. Most-studied bioaerosols are pollen and fungal spores, some of which are known for their allergenic effect. Many plant pathogens are also distributed in the air.
Bioaerosols can also affect clouds, thus contributing to weather and climate. Despite their abundance and significant impact, bioaerosols are difficult to observe and model, and thus are poorly studied.
“This campaign was a beginning of a long journey towards understanding atmospheric bioaerosols. Within three months, we obtained probably the largest dataset on atmospheric biological content in Europe. Its analysis still goes on, but the campaign has already shown that bioaerosols can be observed and predicted on a regular basis, just like we do it for ozone or anthropogenic aerosols”, says Professor Mikhail Sofiev from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, who coordinated the study.
Further information:
Research Professor Mikhail Sofiev, Atmospheric Composition Department, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Mikhail.sofiev@fmi.fi, tel +358 50 3290578
Scientific article is available on Environmental Research.
Article reference: Mikhail Sofiev, Svetlana Sofieva, Julia Palamarchuk, Ingrida Šaulienė, Evgeny Kadantsev, Nina Atanasova, Yalda Fatahi, Rostislav Kouznetsov, Joel Kuula, Auste Noreikaite, Martina Peltonen, Timo Pihlajamäki, Annika Saarto, Julija Svirskaite, Linnea Toiviainen, Svyatoslav Tyuryakov, Laura Šukienė, Eija Asmi, Dennis Bamford, Antti-Pekka Hyvärinen, Ari Karppinen, Bioaerosols in the atmosphere at two sites in Northern Europe in spring 2021: Outline of an experimental campaign, Environmental Research, Volume 214, Part 2, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113798