Preliminary insight into the relationship between bioaerosols and urban environment obtained from the COVID-19 self-quarantine period in the Tokyo metropolitan area

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities and meteorological conditions influence the composition of urban bioaerosols. The COVID-19 epidemic drastically reduced anthropogenic activities in the metropolitan areas of Japan in 2020. This study examined inter-day fluctuations in airborne bacterial and fungal compositions in Tokyo, Japan, between April and June 2020, under exceptionally unusual conditions where the movement of people and economic activity had been greatly reduced. The result showed, as expected, that local meteorological factors, especially wind and precipitation, substantially impacted emissions and changes in bacterial and fungal aerosols. However, we found that variations in the composition of urban bioaerosols could potentially be affected by anthropogenic influences, such as the concentrations of nitrogen oxides, ozone, and particulate matter, and human density. Although such factors are not as influential as wind and precipitation, it was shown for the first time that drastic changes in human activities within an area can affect the dynamics of bioaerosols. This could be a finding that should be considered for public health issues related to air quality in changing urban areas such as fast-growing cities.