As part of the EU-supported Biodiversa project ‘AirBiD’, the AIT Bioresources team is exploring the influence of urban green spaces on the composition of biological particles - so-called bioaerosols - in five European cities. The aim is to develop concrete recommendations to specifically promote the biodiversity of urban air, thereby increasing health benefits and minimising risks.
Biodiversity in cities is largely determined by human activities. In addition to classic air pollutants (CO₂, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter), parks, green spaces, industrial and residential areas also influence the quantity and diversity of biological particles in the air. These bioaerosols include bacteria, fungal spores, pollen and other plant components, which can have both health-promoting and harmful effects depending on their composition. To date, however, little research has been carried out into how exactly the environment of a city influences its bioaerological diversity and what specific health effects can be caused.
Nature-based solutions and citizen science
In the Biodiversa+ partnership project AirBiD, air samples are collected at various locations in Vienna, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Trento to investigate how natural surfaces change the composition of bioaerosols. State-of-the-art molecular biological analysis methods - including DNA sequencing - are being used to visualise the diversity of these particles. A further focus is on clarifying whether plants can not only filter gases, but also change the biological particle load in the air. At the same time, the potential of bioaerosols for human well-being is being investigated. A citizen science approach enables interested individuals to get directly involved in the research by collecting data and conducting simple experiments. "We use state-of-the-art molecular biological methods to record the genetic diversity of air particles at different locations. With the help of precise maps of cities and computer-aided modelling, we are investigating the effect of green spaces on the diversity and composition of bioaerosols. This enables us to make specific recommendations for the design of urban green spaces," explains Clara Pogner, bioaerosol expert at the AIT Centre for Health and Bioresources. The AIT Bioresources Unit has contributed its expertise to numerous national and international research projects, including the EU project InChildHealth, the Lower Austrian projects Danube-ARC and MolDmould as well as the Cost-Action ADOPT, a Europe-wide research cooperation. These initiatives illustrate the breadth of the team's activities - from health research and ecological applications to international standardisation in the field of bioaerosols.
Future prospects for clean air
At the end of the project, guidelines will be developed to preserve and strengthen species-rich urban air. These recommendations include the targeted expansion of sustainable green spaces and will be prepared in an easily accessible form for the public. The aim is to raise awareness of nature-based solutions and their benefits not only for scientific studies and urban decision-makers, but also for the people who live in cities, so that cities remain liveable for both people and nature.