Fungal bioaerosols in a developing city: a case study in São Carlos, SP

• Grant number: 23/07601-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: October 01, 2023
• End date until: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Roberta Cerasi Urban
• Grantee: Gustavo Bitencort dos Santos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the main environmental risks to human health, with particulate matter (PM) standing out as one of the most studied due to its harmful potential. Although the presence of bioaerosols, PM of biological origin, in the atmosphere has been known for centuries, studies on this topic are recent, and more studies are needed, especially in developing countries. In Brazil, bioaerosols have not yet been studied, therefore, the overall objective of this project is to quantify fungi in the atmosphere of São Carlos. In addition, the concentrations of saccharides will be determined, and the correlations between these data will be evaluated. For this, samples of atmospheric PM will be collected, the concentrations of fungi determined by qPCR, and the concentrations of saccharides determined by gas chromatography. Furthermore, meteorological data will be collected and correlated to the biological and chemical data. The proposed project should generate unprecedented data, which will be statistically analysed. The student will develop skills through an interdisciplinary research, fieldworks (sampling), the use of analytical techniques and statistical tools, interpreting and contextualizing data, which will be of great value in their career. This development will also take place through discussions and presentations. The project will be managed in line with the FAIR data principles, in the future, the study will be expanded to include public health and infectious diseases, and the proposition of actions to mitigate exposure to fungi.