Integrating air microbiome for comprehensive air quality analysis

Air quality is monitored through networks of integrated measuring stations, which employ, among 18 others, high-volume air samplers (HVS) for the collection of particulate matter (PM) on filters. 19 Those filters undergo analysis of primarily PM2.5 or PM10 concentration (µg/m3) and a limited 20 number of regulated toxic metals. The biological composition of those collected particles is often 21 overlooked despite its significant relevance for human health. 22 In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using filters from HVS for the analysis of bioaerosols 23 and developed an efficient DNA extraction method for ultra-low biomass air samples, ensuring 24 sufficient quantity and quality of genetic material for metagenomic sequencing analysis. We 25 explored the impacts of sampling duration, particle size selection, and filter materials on microbial 26 diversity of samples collected by HVS and compared it to a well-established bioaerosol sampler, 27 SASS 3100. 28 The study emphasises the HVS's effectiveness in capturing the predominant species in the air 29 microbiome and underline the need of implementing blank samples alongside aerosol samples 30 during analysis. 31 The study provides valuable insights into the potential use of HVS for airborne microbiome 32 characterization, highlighting the feasibility of integrating bioaerosol analysis into regular 33 monitoring stations to enable a more holistic assessment of air quality.