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The source and transport of bioaerosols in the air: A review

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Abstract

Recent pandemic outbreak of the corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has raised widespread concerns about the importance of the bioaerosols. They are atmospheric aerosol particles of biological origins, mainly including bacteria, fungi, viruses, pollen, and cell debris. Bioaerosols can exert a substantial impact on ecosystems, climate change, air quality, and public health. Here, we review several relevant topics on bioaerosols, including sampling and detection techniques, characterization, effects on health and air quality, and control methods. However, very few studies have focused on the source apportionment and transport of bioaerosols. The knowledge of the sources and transport pathways of bioaerosols is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the role microorganisms play in the atmosphere and control the spread of epidemic diseases associated with them. Therefore, this review comprehensively summarizes the up to date progress on the source characteristics, source identification, and diffusion and transport process of bioaerosols. We intercompare three types of diffusion and transport models, with a special emphasis on a widely used mathematical model. This review also highlights the main factors affecting the source emission and transport process, such as biogeographic regions, land-use types, and environmental factors. Finally, this review outlines future perspectives on bioaerosols.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51478045), the Fund Project of Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control (GKECHRC-07), the Fund Project of Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation (2018-ZD04), and the Opening Fund of State Key Laboratory of Green Building in Western China (LSKF202008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Wenwen Xie, Yanpeng Li, Wenyan Bai, Junli Hou, Tianfeng Ma, Xuelin Zeng & Liyuan Zhang

  2. Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environment Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Taicheng An

  3. Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region (Ministry of Education), Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Yanpeng Li & Liyuan Zhang

Authors
  1. Wenwen Xie
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  2. Yanpeng Li
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  3. Wenyan Bai
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  4. Junli Hou
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  5. Tianfeng Ma
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  6. Xuelin Zeng
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  7. Liyuan Zhang
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  8. Taicheng An
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Correspondence to Yanpeng Li.

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Highlights

• Emission of microbe from local environments is a main source of bioaerosols.

• Regional transport is another important source of the bioaerosols.

• There are many factors affecting the diffusion and transport of bioaerosols.

• Source identification method uncovers the contribution of sources of bioaerosols.

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Xie, W., Li, Y., Bai, W. et al. The source and transport of bioaerosols in the air: A review. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 15, 44 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1336-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1336-8

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