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The abundance of urban endotoxins as measured with an impinger-based sampling strategy

Tijdschriftbijdrage - Tijdschriftartikel

Endotoxins are components of Gram-negative bacteria with inherently high pro-inflammatory potential. In an urban environment, airborne endotoxins may associate with pollutants such as particulate matter, increasing the severity of the immune response by acting as a natural adjuvant to augment inflammatory respiratory disease development. Here, we present a closer look at outdoor urban endotoxins by applying a microbial-targeted collection strategy. Results from 87 samples distributed throughout the city of Antwerp ranged from 0.45 to 93.71 EU/m3, with a geometric mean of 4.49 EU/m3 and 95% confidence interval of 3.535.71 EU/m3. Sample collection was also coupled with the use of a Coulter counter, for which the particle count (2.510 μm/m3) showed a significant correlation with endotoxin concentration (R2 = 0.24; p < 0.0001; n = 64). In addition, the analysis of the cultivable bacterial colony-forming units on Reasoners 2A agar (expressed CFU/m3) showed to be a good indicator for airborne endotoxins (R2 = 0.57; p < 0.0001; n = 58). Moreover, identification of dominant bacterial colonies on these culture plates gave some indications on potential sources of these urban outdoor bacteria and endotoxins.
Tijdschrift: Aerobiologia
ISSN: 0393-5965
Volume: 34
Pagina's: 487 - 496
Jaar van publicatie:2018
Trefwoorden:A1 Journal article
BOF-keylabel:ja
BOF-publication weight:1
CSS-citation score:1
Authors from:Higher Education
Toegankelijkheid:Open