Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and municipal waste management plants (MWMPs) emit bioaerosols containing potentially pathogenic biological components which post a threat for human health. Microbiological monitoring supports evaluations of the antibiotic resistance (AR) of airborne microorganisms and the relevant health risks. The aim of this study was to analyze the microbiological quality of air sampled in a WWTP and MWMP in Olsztyn based on total bacterial counts, the presence of bacteria resistant to three antibiotic classes (beta-lactams, tetracyclines and chloramphenicol) and genes encoding resistance to these antibiotics (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCMY-2, blaAmpC, tet(M), tet(A), tet(X), tet(B), cmlA, floR, fexA, fexB and catA1 ). Bacterial counts were higher in air samples collected from the MWMP (~104 CFU/m3) than from the WWTP (101–103 CFU/m3). A similar trend was noted in the counts of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). The abundance of ARB did not exceed 1.7 x 102 CFU/m3 in WWTP samples, but was higher at up to 4.2 x 103 CFU/m3 in MWMP samples. Bacteria resistant to doxycycline were least prevalent in the analyzed ARB. In the group of 49 tested bacterial strains, 44 harbored at least one of the analyzed antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). A comparison of ARGs in all bacterial strains isolated from WWTP and MWMP air samples revealed the highest diversity and prevalence of ARGs in the samples collected in the mechanical segment of the waste processing line in MWMP and the biological segment of the wastewater processing line in WWTP. The results of this study point to high microbiological contamination of air in MWMPs and WWTPs which are reservoirs of ARB and ARGs and potential sources of AR.
Highlights
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and municipal waste management plants (MWMPs) emit odors and biological aerosols which are potential sources of microbiological contamination in atmospheric air [1,2,3]
The aim of this study was to analyze the microbiological quality of air sampled from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and a MWMP in Olsztyn based on total microbial counts, the presence of bacteria resistant to three antibiotic classes and genes encoding resistance to these antibiotics (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCMY-2, blaAmpC, tet(M), tet(A), tet(X), tet(B), cmlA, floR, fexA, fexB and catA1)
The total bacterial counts were lowest (8.75 x 101 CFU/m3) in air samples collected in the mechanical segment of the WWTP and highest (4.51 x 104 CFU/m3) in air samples collected in the biological segment of the MWMP
Summary
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and municipal waste management plants (MWMPs) emit odors and biological aerosols which are potential sources of microbiological contamination in atmospheric air [1,2,3]. The concentration and range of bioaerosol emissions are determined by the size of the processing plant, the applied technology and conditions in every segment of the plant (mechanical/biological waste treatment). The type and reach of processing plants environmental impact is influenced by initial microbial counts in solid waste and wastewater, microbial growth stages, the applied processing technology, weather and environmental conditions [7]. Contaminated air can contain antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) which are transferred from processed waste in plants, many of which are large open areas
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