Aerobiology, Volume 4, Issue 1 (March 2026) – 5 articles

The escalating threats of zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change, and environmental degradation have intensified the need for a unified health approach. One Health—integrating human, animal, and environmental health—is critical for national and global health security. India, with its high population density, biodiversity, and socio-ecological complexity, stands poised to lead in operationalizing this integrated vision. This review analyzes India’s evolving One Health ecosystem, focusing on policy development, inter-ministerial collaborations, surveillance systems, grassroots implementation, and education. Institutions like the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) are discussed. We propose a strategic blueprint built on integrated surveillance (One Network), cross-sectoral governance (One Nation), and field-level implementation (One Health). Highlighting successful case studies and India’s role in global platforms, the article presents a roadmap to bridge fragmented efforts into a resilient, community-driven national mission to protect human, animal, and environmental health. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus is a common opportunistic pathogen found in various environments, with the potential for rapid spread, especially in densely populated indoor settings. Integrating traditional microbiological monitoring with molecular techniques is critical for the timely detection and control of such pathogens. The aim of this study was (1) to monitor the presence and spread of S. aureus in a crowded occupational environment and (2) to optimize a PCR protocol with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) for precise identification and early detection of this microorganism and its antibiotic resistance genes. Sampling was conducted in two different places: a call center and a healthcare facility room. All samples were collected from indoor areas at two different time points (T0 and T1) in May 2025 (mean temperature: 22.5 °C; humidity: 59.5%). Microbiological techniques and molecular analysis using PCR-SSP were employed to confirm the presence of S. aureus and detect antibiotic resistance genes such as mecA. A total CFU (colony-forming unit) count of 587 was recorded at the dental clinic corridor, and a total CFU count of 2008 was recorded at the call center corridor. PCR-SSP successfully confirmed the identity of S. aureus with an amplicon size 267 bp and enabled the detection of antibiotic resistance markers, validating its use as a complementary method to traditional microbiological techniques. This study highlights the importance of combining environmental monitoring with molecular biology tools to enhance the early detection and accurate identification of microbial pathogens such as S. aureus and provide an insight for our future direction of producing biosensors for digital air monitoring in crowded workplaces. Full article

Aeromycoflora present in the library environment is known to play a significant role in triggering allergies and contributing to the deterioration of both cellulosic and non-cellulosic materials within the intramural setting of the Midnapore College Library. Fungal spores not only accelerate the aging and degradation of books but also pose considerable health risks to students, library visitors, and staff. In total, 480 fungal colonies belonging to 15 genera and 28 species were recorded using the culture plate exposure method. The predominant taxa included Aspergillus/Penicillium, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria solani, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Curvularia lunata, Penicillium oxalicum, Epicoccum sp., Fusarium solanii, Fusarium oxysporum, Periconia sp., Rhizopus sp., and other Penicillium species. Many of these fungi are well-documented allergens and have been reported to cause adverse health manifestations—such as respiratory discomfort and skin irritation—among students, teaching staff, and book handlers exposed to airborne mycobiota. The present study aimed to investigate the aeromycological diversity within the Midnapore College Library and to conduct immuno-clinical assessments to identify specific serum IgE using both in vivo and in vitro diagnostic techniques. Individuals frequently visiting the library reported symptoms including eye irritation, headaches, itchy skin, sore throat, and severe asthma. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a significant association between total and dominant spore concentrations and the health status of affected individuals. Clinico-immunological evaluations confirmed the allergenicity of Aspergillus fumigatus, with 39.5% of atopic individuals showing positive reactions in skin prick tests (SPT). Additionally, three novel sero-reactive proteins were identified, offering valuable insights for local clinicians in diagnosing and managing fungal-induced allergic conditions. Full article

Allergic rhinitis and asthma remain major public-health challenges, with airborne pollen serving as a key environmental driver. This study investigates the temporal association between aeroallergen exposure, patient healthcare utilization, and allergy medicine consumption at the MNIT Jaipur dispensary from 2015 to 2020, focusing on Holoptelea integrifolia pollen as a primary allergen. Patient visit data and medicine issuance records were analyzed to evaluate seasonal co-trends using descriptive time-series and statistical tests, including Pearson correlation and Mann–Whitney U. The analysis revealed consistent peaks in both patient visit and medicine issuance during February–April, corresponding with H. integrifolia pollen release, and secondary peaks during August–September and October, coinciding with Amaranthus spinosus, Parthenium hysterophorus, and monsoon mold activity. A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.22–0.79, p = 0.007) and significant differences between high- and low-patient months (U = 107.5, p = 0.043, 95% CI of difference: 1323–3620 units) indicating that increased healthcare utilization coincides with seasonal aeroallergen exposure. These findings highlight the potential of medicine consumption data as a cost-effective proxy for allergen surveillance, aiding early warning and preparedness for seasonal allergy management. Integration of such pharmaco-epidemiological insights with dispersion models may strengthen predictive frameworks for pollen exposure and public-health response. Full article

Airborne magnetic particles (AMPs) are associated with potentially toxic elements, and their size, mineralogy, and concentration can significantly impact both the environment and human health. However, their spatial analysis is often limited by small datasets, non-normality, and pronounced local variability. In this work, two sites with distinct demographic and geographic characteristics, the city of Mar del Plata (Argentina) and the Aburrá Valley region (Colombia), were analyzed using the fuzzy Magnetic Pollution Index (IMC) as an indicator of the concentration of AMPs. Moreover, an original methodological framework that explicitly incorporates measurement uncertainty through fuzzy numbers, combined with an approach modeling fuzzy semivariances via α-cuts, performs spatial prediction via ordinary kriging. This study produces maps that simultaneously reflect the magnitude of IMC and its associated uncertainty. Unlike classical geostatistics, the fuzzy-based model captures the inherent imprecision of magnetic measurements and reveals spatial patterns where uncertainty becomes informative about the type and origin of pollution. In particular, this approach demonstrates that areas with higher IMC levels are associated with high anthropic activity (near industrial zones, main avenues, slow traffic). In contrast, lower values were found in residential areas. Overall, the fuzzy-driven approach provides an additional layer of information not accessible through traditional methods, improving spatial interpretation and supporting the identification of priority areas for environmental monitoring. Full article