Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/35954
Title: Residential green space can shape the indoor microbial environment
Authors: DOCKX, Yinthe 
Taubel, Martin
BIJNENS, Esmee 
WITTERS, Katrien 
Valkonen, Maria
Jayaprakash, Balamuralikrishna
HOGERVORST, Janneke 
NAWROT, Tim 
CASAS RUIZ, Lidia 
Issue Date: 2021
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
Source: ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 201 , (Art N° 111543)
Abstract: Background: The influence of outdoor green space on microbial communities indoors has scarcely been investigated. Here, we study the associations between nearby residential green space and residential indoor microbiota. Methods: We collected settled dust from 176 living rooms of participants of the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort. We performed 16S and ITS amplicon sequencing, and quantitative PCR measurements of total bacterial and fungal loads to calculate bacterial and fungal diversity measures (Chao1 richness, Shannon and Simpson diversity indices) and relative abundance of individual taxa. Green spaces were estimated within 50m and 100m buffers around the residential address. We defined total residential green space using high-resolution land-cover data, further stratified in low-growing (height<3m) and high-growing green (height>3m). We used land-use data to calculate the residential nature. We ran linear regression models, adjusting for confounders and other potential determinants. Results are expressed as units change for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in residential green space and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: After adjustment, we observed statistically significant associations between the indoor microbial diversity indices and nearby residential green space. For bacteria, the Shannon index was directly associated with residential nature (e.g. 0.08 units increase (CI:0.02,0.13) per IQR increase in nature within a 50m buffer). Fungal diversity was directly associated with high-growing residential green and inversely with low-growing green. For example, an IQR increase in high-growing green within a 50m buffer was associated with increases in 0.14 (CI:0.01,0.27) and 0.02 (CI:0.008,0.04) units in the Shannon and Simpson indices, respectively. Conclusions: Nearby green space determines the diversity of indoor environment microbiota, and the type of green differently impacts bacterial and fungal diversity. Further research is needed to investigate in more detail possible microbial taxa compositions underlying the observed changes in indoor microbiota diversity and to explore their contribution to beneficial health effects associated with green space exposure.
Notes: Nawrot, TS (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Ctr Environm Sci, Agoralaan Bldg D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
tim.nawrot@uhasselt.be
Keywords: Bacteria; Fungi; Indoor environment; Built environment; Green space
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/35954
ISSN: 0013-9351
e-ISSN: 1096-0953
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111543
ISI #: WOS:000703937500011
Rights: © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Category: A1
Type: Journal Contribution
Validations: ecoom 2022
Appears in Collections:Research publications

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