Proyecto de Investigación: CGL2015-69758-P
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CGL2015-69758-P
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Characterization of an electrostatic filter prototype for bioaerosol flowmetering for INTA Investigation Aerial Platforms
(Elsevier, 2019-08-20) Bardera, Rafael; García Magariño, A.; González, Elena; Aguilera, Á.; Sor, Suthyvann; Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)
The characterization of the airborne microorganisms at different altitudes of the atmosphere is usually conducted by means of aerial platforms. It is very interesting to know the biological processes in the atmosphere. However, there are problems associated to the fact that sampling systems are embarked on an aircraft and the low presence of microorganisms at high altitude. A prototype of a new electrostatic filter for bioaersol flowmetering dedicated to biology investigations has been developed. This prototype was designed to be installed on board in aerial platforms of INTA. The experimental characterization of the aerodynamic flow was performed in order to investigate the behaviour of the filter when different air intake widths and different mechanical deflectors are employed. A combination of these impactor with the filters based on industrial electrostatic precipitator technology have been studied. Non-intrusive Particle Image Velocimetry technique has been used to measure the flow field inside the filter when it was running under controlled conditions in laboratory. This study is a first investigation on the flow field of filter for bioaerosol flowmetering to be embarked on an aircraft. The results show the influence of each parameter in the flow field that could be used for further investigations and designs.
Occurrence and transport of microplastics sampled within and above the planetary boundary layer
(Elsevier BV, 2021-03-20) González Pleiter, M.; Edo, C.; Aguilera, Á.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Pulido Reyes, G.; González Toril, Elena; De Diego Castilla, Graciela; Leganés, F.; Fernández Piñas, F.; Rosal, R.; Osuna Esteban, Susana; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); 0000-0003-0816-8775; 0000-0003-0340-7327; 0000-0002-7674-4167
Nowadays, there is no direct evidence about the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere above ground level. Here, we investigated the occurrence, chemical composition, shape, and size of MPs in aircraft sampling campaigns flying within and above the planetary boundary layer (PBL). The results showed that MPs were present with concentrations ranging from 1.5 MPs m−3 above rural areas to 13.9 MPs m−3 above urban areas. MPs represented up to almost one third of the total amount of microparticles collected. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy allowed identifying seven types of MPs with the highest diversity corresponding to urban areas. Atmospheric transport and deposition simulations were performed using the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. Air mass trajectory analyses showed that MPs could be transported more than 1000 km before being deposited. This pioneer study is the first evidence of the microplastic presence above PBL and their potential long-range transport from their point of release even crossing distant borders.
Impacts of Saharan Dust Intrusions on Bacterial Communities of the Low Troposphere
(Spring Nature Research Journals, 2020-04-22) González Toril, Elena; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Navarro Cid, Ivan; Del Toro, Silvia Díaz; Bardera, Rafael; Puente Sánchez, Fernando; De Diego Castilla, Graciela; Aguilera, Á.; Osuna Esteban, Susana; Sor, Suthyvann; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); 0000-0002-5750-0765; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
We have analyzed the bacterial community of a large Saharan dust event in the Iberian Peninsula and, for the first time, we offer new insights regarding the bacterial distribution at different altitudes of the lower troposphere and the replacement of the microbial airborne structure as the dust event receeds. Samples from different open-air altitudes (surface, 100 m and 3 km), were obtained onboard the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) C-212 aircrafts. Samples were collected during dust and dust-free air masses as well two weeks after the dust event. Samples related in height or time scale seems to show more similar community composition patterns compared with unrelated samples. The most abundant bacterial species during the dust event, grouped in three different phyla: (a) Proteobacteria: Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales, Rhodobacterales, (b) Actinobacteria: Geodermatophilaceae; (c) Firmicutes: Bacillaceae. Most of these taxa are well known for being extremely stress-resistant. After the dust intrusion, Rhizobium was the most abundant genus, (40–90% total sequences). Samples taken during the flights carried out 15 days after the dust event were much more similar to the dust event samples compared with the remaining samples. In this case, Brevundimonas, and Methylobacterium as well as Cupriavidus and Mesorizobium were the most abundant genera.
Toxicity, Physiological, and Ultrastructural Effects of Arsenic and Cadmium on the Extremophilic Microalga Chlamydomonas acidophila
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2020-03-03) Díaz, S.; De Francisco, P.; Olsson, S.; Aguilera, Á.; González Toril, Elena; Martín González, A.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Olsson, S. [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1199-4499]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
The cytotoxicity of cadmium (Cd), arsenate (As(V)), and arsenite (As(III)) on a strain of Chlamydomonas acidophila, isolated from the Rio Tinto, an acidic environment containing high metal(l)oid concentrations, was analyzed. We used a broad array of methods to produce complementary information: cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation measures, ultrastructural observations, transmission electron microscopy energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (TEM-XEDS), and gene expression. This acidophilic microorganism was affected differently by the tested metal/metalloid: It showed high resistance to arsenic while Cd was the most toxic heavy metal, showing an LC50 = 1.94 mu M. Arsenite was almost four-fold more toxic (LC50= 10.91 mM) than arsenate (LC50 = 41.63 mM). Assessment of ROS generation indicated that both arsenic oxidation states generate superoxide anions. Ultrastructural analysis of exposed cells revealed that stigma, chloroplast, nucleus, and mitochondria were the main toxicity targets. Intense vacuolization and accumulation of energy reserves (starch deposits and lipid droplets) were observed after treatments. Electron-dense intracellular nanoparticle-like formation appeared in two cellular locations: inside cytoplasmic vacuoles and entrapped into the capsule, around each cell. The chemical nature (Cd or As) of these intracellular deposits was confirmed by TEM-XEDS. Additionally, they also contained an unexpected high content in phosphorous, which might support an essential role of poly-phosphates in metal resistance.
Impacts of Saharan Dust Intrusions on Bacterial Communities of the Low Troposphere
(Springer Nature Research Journals, 2020-04-22) González Toril, Elena; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Navarro Cid, Ivan; Díaz del Toro, Silvia; Bardera, Rafael; Sánchez, F. P.; De Diego Castilla, Graciela; Aguilera, Á.; Osuna Esteban, Susana; Sor, Suthyvann; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Sor, S. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6972-8601
We have analyzed the bacterial community of a large Saharan dust event in the Iberian Peninsula and, for the first time, we offer new insights regarding the bacterial distribution at different altitudes of the lower troposphere and the replacement of the microbial airborne structure as the dust event receeds. Samples from different open-air altitudes (surface, 100 m and 3 km), were obtained onboard the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) C-212 aircrafts. Samples were collected during dust and dust-free air masses as well two weeks after the dust event. Samples related in height or time scale seems to show more similar community composition patterns compared with unrelated samples. The most abundant bacterial species during the dust event, grouped in three different phyla: (a) Proteobacteria: Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales, Rhodobacterales, (b) Actinobacteria: Geodermatophilaceae; (c) Firmicutes: Bacillaceae. Most of these taxa are well known for being extremely stress-resistant. After the dust intrusion, Rhizobium was the most abundant genus, (40–90% total sequences). Samples taken during the flights carried out 15 days after the dust event were much more similar to the dust event samples compared with the remaining samples. In this case, Brevundimonas, and Methylobacterium as well as Cupriavidus and Mesorizobium were the most abundant genera.
