Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents
Indoor air quality plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of residents. Delhi, known as one of the most polluted cities globally, often receives insufficient attention in managing and mitigating related health impacts. This study isolated, characterized, and assessed microbial indoor air...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1626827/full |
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| author | Pradeep Kumar Pradeep Kumar Rajeev Singh Rajeev Singh |
| author_facet | Pradeep Kumar Pradeep Kumar Rajeev Singh Rajeev Singh |
| author_sort | Pradeep Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Indoor air quality plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of residents. Delhi, known as one of the most polluted cities globally, often receives insufficient attention in managing and mitigating related health impacts. This study isolated, characterized, and assessed microbial indoor air quality (bioaerosols) using multiproxy approaches and correlated findings with associated health effects. The spatial variation of bacterial aerosols showed irregular patterns, increasing from winter to summer and decreasing in fall; fungal aerosols consistently increased from winter to fall. Bacterial aerosol concentrations ranged from 730 to 5,300 CFU/m3, while fungal concentrations were between 1,330 and 6,050 CFU/m3, significantly exceeding the recommended limits. The size distribution of fungal aerosols varied across seasons, with higher concentrations in the 4th and 5th stages of the sampler. Several airborne bacterial and fungal genera, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium, were identified in homes. Health effects were most pronounced in winter followed by fall, with symptoms such as headaches, eye irritation, allergic rhinitis, coughing, and sneezing being common. As per this study, there may be a correlation between indoor bioaerosol concentrations, seasonal variations, and health outcomes, though further in-depth in vitro, exposure assessment, and epidemiological studies are necessary to substantiate these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d94902da899148059b2b2b4926909d27 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-d94902da899148059b2b2b4926909d272025-08-20T03:32:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16268271626827Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residentsPradeep Kumar0Pradeep Kumar1Rajeev Singh2Rajeev Singh3Department of Environmental Studies, Satyawati College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, United StatesDepartment of Environmental Studies, Satyawati College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Environmental Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, IndiaIndoor air quality plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of residents. Delhi, known as one of the most polluted cities globally, often receives insufficient attention in managing and mitigating related health impacts. This study isolated, characterized, and assessed microbial indoor air quality (bioaerosols) using multiproxy approaches and correlated findings with associated health effects. The spatial variation of bacterial aerosols showed irregular patterns, increasing from winter to summer and decreasing in fall; fungal aerosols consistently increased from winter to fall. Bacterial aerosol concentrations ranged from 730 to 5,300 CFU/m3, while fungal concentrations were between 1,330 and 6,050 CFU/m3, significantly exceeding the recommended limits. The size distribution of fungal aerosols varied across seasons, with higher concentrations in the 4th and 5th stages of the sampler. Several airborne bacterial and fungal genera, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium, were identified in homes. Health effects were most pronounced in winter followed by fall, with symptoms such as headaches, eye irritation, allergic rhinitis, coughing, and sneezing being common. As per this study, there may be a correlation between indoor bioaerosol concentrations, seasonal variations, and health outcomes, though further in-depth in vitro, exposure assessment, and epidemiological studies are necessary to substantiate these findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1626827/fullindoor air qualityquestionnaire surveyrespiratory problemsbacteriafungi |
| spellingShingle | Pradeep Kumar Pradeep Kumar Rajeev Singh Rajeev Singh Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents Frontiers in Public Health indoor air quality questionnaire survey respiratory problems bacteria fungi |
| title | Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents |
| title_full | Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents |
| title_fullStr | Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents |
| title_short | Microbial indoor air pollution in Delhi Metropolitan City is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents |
| title_sort | microbial indoor air pollution in delhi metropolitan city is attributable to severe respiratory and general health effects among residents |
| topic | indoor air quality questionnaire survey respiratory problems bacteria fungi |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1626827/full |
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