A Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Communities in Settled Air Dust and Vacuumed Surface Dust From University Dormitories and Associations With Respiratory Health

The choice between sampling settled air dust versus vacuumed surface dust provides profoundly different views of the indoor bacteriome, which can lead to contradictory conclusions in epidemiological studies of asthma and respiratory illness. Our findings underscore that the selection of an environmental sampling strategy is a critical methodological decision that can dictate the outcome and potential health implications of indoor microbiome research. Researchers must align their sampling method with a clear exposure hypothesis to ensure valid health risk assessments. Future indoor air quality standards and epidemiological studies should consider implementing multi-method sampling to capture a comprehensive profile of microbial exposure.