Powstawanie, przenoszenie i szkodliwość bioaerozoli emitowanych do powietrza atmosferycznego.

Nowadays, problems of atmospheric air contamination become increasingly important. Aerobiology, an interdisciplinary science has even developed to study microorganisms and biological materials related to the atmospheric air, including their release to the atmosphere, transport, distribution, deposition as well as effects they have on plants, animals and humans. The biological molecules most often analyzed in the air include bacteria, fungi, viruses, plant pollens, toxins and allergens as they constitute the largest bioaerosol fraction in the air. They play a special role in explaining etiology, pathogenesis and spread mechanisms of many epidemics where the air and specifically bioaerosol play an important role as carrying pathogens, toxins or allergens. With this specifically in mind, the paper discusses the process of formation, transmission and harmfulness of bioaerosols originating from such municipal facilities as wastewater treatment plants or solid waste processing facilities. Primary and secondary bioaerosols may be distinguished in this group, whereas based on the emission source, they may be of natural and anthropogenic origin. The bioaerosol molecules range from 0,001 µm to 250 μm. Due to their role in the spread of pathogens and ease with which they enter the respiratory system of humans or animals, a notably increased interest in these molecules could be observed during recent years. In their research on aerosol and bioaerosol formation process, authors focus on the bursting mechanism of the air bubbles passing through a liquid and release of bioaerosols located in the membrane, and on the liquid-air interface, into the atmosphere. The aerosol particles released into the atmosphere undergo direct sedimentation or remain in the air, where they are transported by wind even over considerable distances. Deposition of aerosol particles may be dry or wet and increases with the particle size. Presence of aeration chambers and their shape play an important role in the release of some bioaerosol particles into the air and their transport. It is emphasized that potential sources of harmful bioaerosols in the air include mainly municipal objects (wastewater treatment and solid waste processing plants), where aerosols carrying pathogenic bacteria, fungi and toxins are generated, while composition and concentration of a given bioaerosol has a significant impact on air quality in the vicinity of such objects. As bioaerosols may be emitted to the surrounding air at different stages of the wastewater treatment, they are the most commonly studied group of hazardous and bothersome agents occurring in the vicinity of treatment plants. Unfortunately, there is a lack of revised regulations in place regarding the microbial air contamination in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]