Metagenomic Profiling of Microbial Communities obtained from PM10 Air Samples from Tamil Nadu, India

Airborne microbial communities play a critical role in influencing both environmental processes and human health. This study focuses on metagenomic profiling of microbial communities associated with particulate matter (PM10) in air samples collected from Kattankulathur, a semi-urban region in Tamil Nadu, India. PM10, or particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, is a significant carrier of airborne microbes, whose diversity and abundance can fluctuate with seasonal variations and environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation.The study aimed to characterize the microbial composition in PM10 samples and assess seasonal variability in community structure across four distinct Indian seasons: summer, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter. Sampling was carried out over a year to capture variations in microbial diversity and abundance linked to climatic conditions. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis were employed to identify microbial taxa and understand their dynamics in response to meteorological parameters.Anthropogenic activities such as vehicular emissions, construction, and biomass burning were identified as key contributors to PM10 levels.This study provides a comprehensive understanding of microbial diversity and seasonal shifts in airborne microbial communities in a semi-urban setting. The findings emphasize the complex interactions between microbial populations and environmental factors, highlighting the importance of monitoring airborne microbes in PM10 for public health and ecological studies. The data can serve as a reference for assessing the impact of urbanization on air quality and for developing strategies to mitigate health risks associated with bioaerosols.