title: Chemical and microbiological characterization of atmospheric particulate matter during an intense African dust event in Southern Spain.
abstract: This study presents the results of the physicochemical characterization of particulate matter associated with an important dust event from the Sahara area that occurred in the South of Spain in 2010. The chemical composition of the samples reflected the dominance of the crustal component of sand from the Sahara desert, although the presence of Mo, Ti, and V trace elements indicated that the dust contained industrial material; probably collected in its transport from Africa. Microbial biodiversity associated with the dust was low, but dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Some Firmicutes (belonging to the genus Bacillus and Sporosarcina) were cultured on solid and liquid medium, which suggested that the transported microbes were alive or present as spores that germinated under favorable conditions. These cultivable microbes in the form of spores were highly resistant to desiccation, heat, and UV light.
authors.affiliation: CIQSO-Associate Unit University of Huelva Atmospheric Pollution, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen, E-21071 Huelva, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez de la Campa
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Salamanca
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Rosa
authors.forename: Juan-Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000349:Africa; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D003890:Desiccation; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013030:Spain; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D058644:Sporosarcina / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000641:Ammonia