A large number and great diversity of pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater can become aerosolized through various aeration modes (e.g., mechanical or blast aeration process) (Fannin et al. However, WWTPs have been recognized as a substantial source of bioaerosols (Brandi et al. Then, this number increased to 2209 WWTPs with a treatment capacity of 4.65 × 10 10 m 3/day in 2017 (MOHURD, 2020). A total of 87 WWTPs with a treatment capacity of 4.45 × 10 9 m 3/day existed in 1991. The number of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is very large and has increased rapidly in China. In addition, health risks from bioaerosol exposure can be greatly enhanced by the airborne transmission of infectious agents, such as SARS in 2003, H1N1 in 2009, and COVID-19 in 2020 (Asadi et al. Some evidence shows that exposure to bioaerosols can be harmful and pose potential occupational health risks related to infection, toxicity, and allergenicity (Douwes et al. Bioaerosol particles include plant or animal debris (e.g., pollen, insects, skin) living microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi as well as fragments or byproducts of microorganisms (Grinshpun and Clark 2005 Reponen 2011). Bioaerosols are aerosols containing particles of biological origin, which have a broad size spectrum (0.02–100 μm) (Ariya and Amyot 2004 Dowd and Maier 2000).
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