1
|
Hao Y, Lu C, Xiang Q, Sun A, Su JQ, Chen QL. Unveiling the overlooked microbial niches thriving on building exteriors. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 187:108649. [PMID: 38642506 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Rapid urbanization in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to place two-thirds of its population in concrete-dominated urban landscapes by 2050. While diverse architectural facades define the unique appearance of these urban systems. There remains a significant gap in our understanding of the composition, assembly, and ecological potential of microbial communities on building exteriors. Here, we examined bacterial and protistan communities on building surfaces along an urbanization gradient (urban, suburban and rural regions), investigating their spatial patterns and the driving factors behind their presence. A total of 55 bacterial and protist phyla were identified. The bacterial community was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria (33.7% to 67.5%). The protistan community exhibited a prevalence of Opisthokonta and Archaeplastida (17.5% to 82.1% and 1.8% to 61.2%, respectively). The composition and functionality of bacterial communities exhibited spatial patterns correlated with urbanization. In urban buildings, factors such as facade type, light exposure, and building height had comparatively less impact on bacterial composition compared to suburban and rural areas. The highest bacterial diversity and lowest Weighted Average Community Identity (WACI) were observed on suburban buildings, followed by rural buildings. In contrast, protists did not show spatial distribution characteristics related to facade type, light exposure, building height and urbanization level. The distinct spatial patterns of protists were primarily shaped by community diffusion and the bottom-up regulation exerted by bacterial communities. Together, our findings suggest that building exteriors serve as attachment points for local microbial metacommunities, offering unique habitats where bacteria and protists exhibit independent adaptive strategies closely tied to the overall ecological potential of the community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yilong Hao
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Changyi Lu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Qian Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Anqi Sun
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Su
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Qing-Lin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang X, Wang X, Wu F, Zhang J, Ai S, Liu Z. Microbial community composition and degradation potential of petroleum-contaminated sites under heavy metal stress. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131814. [PMID: 37307728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Total petroleum hydrocarbons (n-alkanes), semi-volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals pose major ecological risks at petrochemical-contaminated sites. The efficiency of natural remediation in situ is often unsatisfactory, particularly under heavy metal pollution stress. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that after long-term contamination and restoration, microbial communities in situ exhibit significantly different biodegradation efficiencies under different concentrations of heavy metals. Moreover, they determine the appropriate microbial community to restore the contaminated soil. Therefore, we investigated the heavy metals in petroleum-contaminated soils and observed that heavy metals effects on distinct ecological clusters varied significantly. Finally, alterations in the native microbial community degradation ability were demonstrated through the occurrence of petroleum pollutant degradation function genes in different communities at the tested sites. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explain the influence of all factors on the degradation function of petroleum pollution. These results suggest that heavy metal contamination from petroleum-contaminated sites reduces the efficiency of natural remediation. In addition, it infers that MOD1 microorganisms have greater degradation potential under heavy metal stress. Utilizing appropriate microorganisms in situ may effectively help resist the stress of heavy metals and continuously degrade petroleum pollutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xusheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China.
| | - Fan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Shunhao Ai
- The College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China
| | - Zhengtao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rangel-Alvarado R, Pal D, Ariya P. PM 2.5 decadal data in cold vs. mild climate airports: COVID-19 era and a call for sustainable air quality policy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:58133-58148. [PMID: 35364791 PMCID: PMC8975444 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Airports are identified hotspots for air pollution, notably for fine particles (PM2.5) that are pivotal in aerosol-cloud interaction processes of climate change and human health. We herein studied the field observation and statistical analysis of 10-year data of PM2.5 and selected emitted co-pollutants (CO, NOx, and O3), in the vicinity of three major Canadian airports, with moderate to cold climates. The decadal data analysis indicated that in colder climate airports, pollutants like PM2.5 and CO accumulate disproportionally to their emissions in fall and winter, in comparison to airports in milder climates. Decadal daily averages and standard errors of PM2.5 concentrations were as follows: Vancouver, 5.31 ± 0.017; Toronto, 6.71 ± 0.199; and Montreal, 7.52 ± 0.023 μg/m3. The smallest and the coldest airport with the least flights/passengers had the highest PM2.5 concentration. QQQ-ICP-MS/MS and HR-S/TEM analysis of aerosols near Montreal Airport indicated a wide range of emerging contaminants (Cd, Mo, Co, As, Ni, Cr, and Pb) ranging from 0.90 to 622 μg/L, which were also observed in the atmosphere. During the lockdown, a pronounced decrease in the concentrations of PM2.5 and submicron particles, including nanoparticles, in residential areas close to airports was observed, conforming with the recommended workplace health thresholds (~ 2 × 104 cm-3), while before the lockdown, condensable particles were up to ~ 1 × 105 cm-3. Targeted reduction of PM2.5 emission is recommended for cold climate regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Devendra Pal
- Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada
| | - Parisa Ariya
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada.
- Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang Z, Saadé NK, Ariya PA. Advances in Ultra-Trace Analytical Capability for Micro/Nanoplastics and Water-Soluble Polymers in the Environment: Fresh Falling Urban Snow. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116698. [PMID: 33611197 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Discarded micro/nano-plastic inputs into the environment are emerging global concerns. Yet the quantification of micro/nanoplastics in complex environmental matrices is still a major challenge, notably for soluble ones. We herein develop in-laboratory built nanostructures (zinc oxide, titanium oxide and cobalt) coupled to mass spectrometry techniques, for picogram quantification of micro/nanoplastics in water and snow matrices, without sample pre-treatment. In parallel, an ultra-trace quantification method for micro/nanoplastics based on nanostructured laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (NALDI-TOF-MS) is developed. The detection limit is ∼5 pg for ambient snow. Soluble polyethylene glycol and insoluble polyethylene fragments were observed and quantified in fresh falling snow in Montreal, Canada. Complementary physicochemical studies of the snow matrices and reference plastics using laser-based particle sizers, inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry, and high-resolution scanning/transmission electron microscopy, produced consistent results with NALDI, and further provided information on morphology and composition of the micro/nano-plastic particles. This work is promising as it demonstrates that a wide range of recyclable nanostructures, in-laboratory built or commercial, can provide ultra-trace capability for quantification for both soluble polymers and insoluble plastics in air, water and soil. It may thereby produce key missing information to determine the fate of micro/nanoplastics in the environment, and their impacts on human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Nadim K Saadé
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Parisa A Ariya
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0B8, Canada; Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0B9, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|