Russian scientists have been studying proteins and particles in atmosphere aerosols for over 20 years. Generally, microorganisms over marshlands are less well studied. The researchers wanted to investigate bioaerosols in the atmosphere over Vasyugan marshes in Siberia, approximately 52,000 km². They wanted to measure the concentration of proteins and culturable microorganisms.

The mix of forest, swamp and peat contains microorganisms which are also affected by wind currents but also during snow, they are less present in the atmosphere. They also collected high-altitude air samples from the atmosphere above the Karakansky forest area, part of the Priobsky pine forest region along the river Ob valley. This is considered to be an environmentally healthy area.

They used existing modelling techniques to study the distribution of components in the atmosphere, and tracking their trajectories. They took atmospheric samples from up to 7000m to calculate the concentration of proteins. To understand the cultivation of microorganism samples, these were grown and analysed on agar plates. They used cell morphology to study the genetic makeup of these samples.

They found that the protein concentrations were significantly lower than the average annual concentration for 2018 above the Karakansky forest and even lower over the Vasyugan marshes. However the concentration of culturable microorganisms were significantly higher above the 2018 totals for both Karakansky forest and Vasyugan marshes. No culturable microorganisms were found above 4000m over the forest compared with the Vasyugan marshes. After intensive rain or snow, no concentrations were found.

The researchers recommend further study to analyse against the 2022 data. This will help improve understanding of microorganisms concentrations and potential impact on humans such as infection rates in the future. This may be vital for managing anti-microbial resistance

It is known that the melanin-producing black fungi Aureobasidium are capable of causing diseases; they are increasingly recognized as the causative agents of a wide variety of forms of human mycoses that are difficult to treat [48]; they are included in the list of more than 80 fungal genera associated with allergic reactions; and they are assigned to the 4th pathogenicity group [49]. The range of species of opportunistic fungi and bacteria that can cause human diseases and have polyresistance to antibiotic drugs is constantly expanding.

Andreeva et al., 2023, Composition and Concentration of the Biogenic Components of the Aerosols Collected over Vasyugan Marshes and Karakan Pine Forest at Altitudes from 500 to 7000 m

Andreeva I S, Safatov A S, Morozova V V, Solovyanova N A, Puchkova L I, Buryak G A, Olkin S E, Reznikova I K, Emelyanova E K, Okhlopkova O V, Simonenkov D V and Belan B D 2023 Composition and Concentration of the Biogenic Components of the Aerosols Collected over Vasyugan Marshes and Karakan Pine Forest at Altitudes from 500 to 7000 m Atmosphere 14 301 Online: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020301