Airborne Infectious Agents and Other Pollutants in Automobiles for Domestic Use: Potential Health Impacts and Approaches to Risk Mitigation

Table 3

Types of microbial pathogens and their possible sources in the family car.

Type	Examples	Possible source(s)
Vegetative bacteria	Legionella pneumophila; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant ones)	Biofilms, human occupants, dust, heating/cooling systems, windshield washer fluid, and splashes from road puddles
Mycobacteria	Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycobacterium avium	Human occupants and biofilms
Bacterial spores	Bacillus subtilis; B. cereus; Clostridium difficile	Road dust, upholstery, heating/cooling systems, carpets, human occupants, and pets
Fungi & fungal spores	Aspergillus niger; Candida albicans	Road dust, upholstery, heating/cooling systems, carpets, human occupants, and pets
Viruses	Noroviruses; rhinoviruses; influenza viruses; rotaviruses	Human occupants, pets & animal (chickens, pigs) cargo