Bioaerosols in deodorization covers of wastewater treatment plants: Emission characteristics and health risks

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the main source of bioaerosol emissions. The cover of deodorization within WWTPs serves not only to manage odors but also to limit the dispersion of bioaerosols. This study investigated the emission characteristics and exposure risks of bioaerosols inside deodorization covers from a WWTP in Northern China. The results revealed that the concentration of bacteria in bioaerosols ranged from 96 ± 8 to 706 ± 45 CFU/m3, with the highest concentration observed in the biochemical reaction tank. The predominant bacterial genera in bioaerosols within the odor control covers were Cetobacterium, Romboutsia, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Tubricibacter, while the dominant fungal genera included Aspergillus, Alternaria, Fusarium, and Cladosporium. The main water-soluble ions in the air were NH4+, Ca2+, SO42−, and Cl−. SO42− was found to promote the survival of Cetobacterium, Brevibacterium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Filobasidium, while Cl− exhibited inhibitory effects on most microorganisms in bioaerosols. Source tracker analysis indicated that wastewater was the primary source of bioaerosols in the biochemical reaction tank. The non-carcinogenic risk associated with bioaerosols within deodorization covers was less than 1 (2.34 × 10−9 to 3.08 × 10−2). FunGuild fungal functional prediction suggested that the abundance of animal pathogens was highest in the bioaerosols from the anaerobic sedimentation tank. BugBase phenotypic prediction showed that the abundance of potential pathogens in secondary sedimentation tank bioaerosols was the highest. This study effectively revealed the characteristics and sources of bioaerosols in the sewage and sludge treatment area under the deodorization cover, which provided a theoretical basis for enhancing the management and control of bioaerosols. [Display omitted] •The characteristics of the bioaerosols within the covers were analyzed.•The bioaerosols in the biochemical reaction tank were originated from the wastewater.•SO42− exhibited a promoting effect on the survival of the dominant bacterial genera.•There were symbiotic relationships among the pathogenic microorganisms.•Highest abundance of animal pathogens in anaerobic sedimentation tank bioaerosols.