Distribution and survival of pathogens from different waste components and bioaerosol traceability analysis in household garbage room.

Household garbage rooms release abundant bioaerosols and are an important source of pathogens; however, information on the distribution and survival patterns of pathogens in different waste components is limited. In this study, a culture method and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing were used to determine bacterial communities, culturable pathogens, and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs). The results showed that abundant culturable bacteria were detected in all waste types, and a large number of S. aureus was detected on the surface of recyclable wastes, whereas S. aureus , total coliforms, Salmonella , Enterococcus , and hemolytic bacteria were detected in food waste and other waste. The activities of these detected pathogenic bacteria decreased after 24 h of storage but re-activated within one week. Factors affecting the emergence of pathogens varied with different waste components. Sequencing results showed that Pseudomonas , Acinetobacter, and Burkholderia were abundant in the waste samples, whereas Achromobacter , Exiguobacteriums, Bordetella , and Corynebacterium were the primary pathogens in the bioaerosol and wall attachment. The results of traceability analysis showed that bioaerosol microbes were mainly derived from raw kitchen waste (5.98%) and plastic and paper contaminated with food waste (19.93%) in garbage rooms. In addition, bioaerosols were the main source of microflora in the wall attachment, which possessed high HBP diversity and required more attention. These findings will help in understanding the microbial hazards in different waste components and provide guidance for the control and risk reduction of bioaerosols during waste management and recycling. [Display omitted] • Abundant Staphylococcus aureus were detected on the surface of recyclable wastes. • Diverse pathogenic bacteria were detected in food wastes and other wastes. • The activities of pathogens decreased after 24 h but re-activated within one week. • Abundant and diverse human bacterial pathogens were detected in the wall attachment. • Raw kitchen waste and contaminated plastic and paper were main sources of bioaerosol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]