Biological particles in the air: the atmosphere as a vector and its action on living beings

Series of outreach and educational videos developed as scientific dissemination material for the European research project EDIAQI (Horizon Europe, GA 101057497), focusing on different topics related to indoor air quality, health, well-being and the built environment. The videos address, from an accessible and evidence-based perspective, aspects such as ventilation, indoor pollution, environmental comfort, healthy habits, building use, exposure in enclosed spaces and strategies to improve indoor environmental quality. They have been produced in multiple European languages to promote the social transfer of scientific knowledge and the international dissemination of the project results among the general public, students and educational communities.

The series is available in the 10 languages of the EDIAQI consortium: Italian, Spanish, English, Croatian, German, Slovenian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Greek and Danish.

6. Biological particles in the air: the atmosphere as a vector and its action on living beings.

When discussing ecosystems, aquatic and terrestrial environments are often mentioned, while the atmosphere is less frequently considered as an ecosystem in which many organisms and biological particles are present. With the invention of the microscope, human beings were able to observe microorganisms such as bacteria and other biological agents, although their behaviour and health implications were not fully understood at first. Over time, scientific advances helped explain the role of airborne biological particles, including pollen and microorganisms, in health effects such as allergic diseases and infections. This video introduces the atmosphere as a vector for biological particles and explains how this knowledge helps us better understand and protect ourselves from the biological agents present in the air.