A potential bioaerosol source from kitchen chimneys in restaurants

Xueyun Geng; Changliang Nie; Dan Li; Mingyu Wang; Yan Wu; Xiaomin Sun; Taicheng An; Maosheng Yao; Jianping Huang; Jianmin Chen

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2024.109115

A potential bioaerosol source from kitchen chimneys in restaurants

Environ Int. 2024 Nov 1:193:109115. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.109115. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xueyun Geng¹, Changliang Nie², Dan Li³, Mingyu Wang⁴, Yan Wu⁵, Xiaomin Sun⁶, Taicheng An⁷, Maosheng Yao⁸, Jianping Huang⁹, Jianmin Chen¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
² Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
⁵ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
⁶ Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
⁷ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
⁸ College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
⁹ Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
¹⁰ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; IRDR International Center of Excellence on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai 200062, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39500121
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.109115

Abstract

Bioaerosols are ubiquitous and have a substantial impact on the atmosphere and human health. Despite the identification of numerous bioaerosol emission sources, the contribution of anthropogenic sources remains inadequately understood. In kitchens, oil stains accumulated at the vent may discharge microorganisms into the environment with airflow, potentially discharging bioaerosol pollution. This putative anthropogenic source of bioaerosols has been long ignored. To investigated whether kitchen chimneys can be a potential source for bioaerosols, air samples, oil stains from in/out chimneys, and surface sand samples were collected near several commercial restaurants. PCoA showed that sampling sites significantly impacted microbiomes, whereas SourceTracker analysis led to the finding that waste grease significantly contributed to bioaerosol composition. Both findings agree with the kitchen chimney as a source of microbes in bioaerosols in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, despite the low biodiversity, a high proportion of stress-tolerant and potential pathogenic bacteria and fungi were found in residual culinary grease, which may escape into the air causing potential risks to human beings. These results led to the proposal that airborne microbiota can originate from cooking waste grease. Immediate actions should be taken into account to enhance disinfection and sterilization aimed at fume vents.

Keywords: Bioaerosol; Chimneys; Kitchen; Pathogens; Waste grease.