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Veillette M, Knibbs LD, Pelletier A, Charlebois R, Blais Lecours P, He C, Morawska L, Duchaine C. Microbial contents of vacuum cleaner bag dust and emitted bioaerosols and their implications for human exposure indoors. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:6331-6. [PMID: 23934489 PMCID: PMC3811220 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01583-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vacuum cleaners can release large concentrations of particles, both in their exhaust air and from resuspension of settled dust. However, the size, variability, and microbial diversity of these emissions are unknown, despite evidence to suggest they may contribute to allergic responses and infection transmission indoors. This study aimed to evaluate bioaerosol emission from various vacuum cleaners. We sampled the air in an experimental flow tunnel where vacuum cleaners were run, and their airborne emissions were sampled with closed-face cassettes. Dust samples were also collected from the dust bag. Total bacteria, total archaea, Penicillium/Aspergillus, and total Clostridium cluster 1 were quantified with specific quantitative PCR protocols, and emission rates were calculated. Clostridium botulinum and antibiotic resistance genes were detected in each sample using endpoint PCR. Bacterial diversity was also analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), image analysis, and band sequencing. We demonstrated that emission of bacteria and molds (Penicillium/Aspergillus) can reach values as high as 1E5 cell equivalents/min and that those emissions are not related to each other. The bag dust bacterial and mold content was also consistent across the vacuums we assessed, reaching up to 1E7 bacterial or mold cell equivalents/g. Antibiotic resistance genes were detected in several samples. No archaea or C. botulinum was detected in any air samples. Diversity analyses showed that most bacteria are from human sources, in keeping with other recent results. These results highlight the potential capability of vacuum cleaners to disseminate appreciable quantities of molds and human-associated bacteria indoors and their role as a source of exposure to bioaerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Veillette
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Luke D. Knibbs
- School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ariane Pelletier
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Remi Charlebois
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Pascale Blais Lecours
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Congrong He
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bioinformatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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