Occupational exposure to bioaerosols during monk parakeet nest removal in urban parks.

Occupational removal of monk parakeet nests in urban parks exposes workers to high levels of fungi, bacteria, and endotoxin, with endotoxin exceeding health guidance values.

• Why it matters: Understanding bioaerosol exposure during invasive species management is crucial for protecting worker health, as these activities may generate airborne biological pollutants with respiratory risks.
• What they did: The study analyzed nest material and air samples from 43 fungal and 91 bacterial species, including RG2 pathogens, using MALDI-TOF MS and in vitro inflammatory assessments, during nest removal tasks.
• The result: Findings show nest removal significantly elevates fungal and endotoxin exposure, especially during cutting, indicating a previously unrecognized source of airborne microorganisms that pose inflammatory and allergic respiratory risks.