Bioprocess of Kosa bioaerosols: effect of ultraviolet radiation on airborne bacteria within Kosa (Asian dust).
Kosa (Asian dust) is a well-known weather phenomenon in which aerosols are carried by the westerly winds from inland China to East Asia. Recently, the frequency of this phenomenon and the extent of damage caused have been increasing. The airborne bacteria within Kosa are called Kosa bioaerosols. Kosa bioaerosols have affected ecosystems, human health and agricultural productivity in downwind areas. In order to develop a new and useful bacterial source and to identify the source region of Kosa bioaerosols, sampling, isolation, identification, measurement of ultraviolet (UV) radiation tolerance and experimental simulation of UV radiation conditions were performed during Kosa bioaerosol transportation. We sampled these bioaerosols using a Cessna 404 airplane and a bioaerosol sampler at an altitude of approximately 2900 m over the Noto Peninsula on March 27, 2010. The bioaerosol particles were isolated and identified as Bacillus sp. BASZHR 1001. The results of the UV irradiation experiment showed that the UV radiation tolerance of Kosa bioaerosol bacteria was very high compared with that of a soil bacterium. Moreover, the UV radiation tolerance of Kosa bioaerosol spores was higher than that of soil bacterial spores. This suggested that Kosa bioaerosols are transported across the atmosphere as living spores. Similarly, by the experimental simulation of UV radiation conditions, the limited source region of this Kosa bioaerosol was found to be southern Russia and there was a possibility of transport from the Kosa source area.
College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan. Electronic address: fumihisa@se.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.
Fumihisa
F
Kobayashi
College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.
Teruya
T
Maki
Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.
Makiko
M
Kakikawa
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan, Nagao 6-21-1, Tama, Kawasaki 214-8585, Japan.
Maromu
M
Yamada
Graduate School of Natural Science & Technology, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.
Findya
F
Puspitasari
The Board of Directors, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Yasaka 2500, Hikone, Shiga 522-8533, Japan.
Yasunobu
Y
Iwasaka
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000401:Aircraft; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001407:Bacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002681:China; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D006801:Humans; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000528:radiation effects; D012426:Russia; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014919:Wind
D000336:Aerosols; D004391:Dust
Airborne bacteria; Asian dust; Bacillus sp.; Bioaerosol; Bioprocess; Kosa; Sampling using airplane; UV radiation