A total of 152 aerosol and spider web samples were collected: 96 spider's webs in karst areas in 4 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Slovakia), specifically from the surface environment (n = 44), photic zones of caves (n = 26), and inside (aphotic zones) of caves (n = 26), 56 Particulate Matter (PM) samples from the Sloupsko-Sosuvsky Cave System (speleotherapy facility; n = 21) and from aerosol collected from the nearby city of Brno (n = 35) in the Czech Republic. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were isolated from 13 (13.5%) spider's webs: 5 isolates of saprophytic NTM (Mycobacterium gordonae, M. kumamotonense, M. terrae, and M. terrae complex) and 6 isolates of potentially pathogenic NTM (M. avium ssp. hominissuis, M. fortuitum, M. intracellulare, M. peregrinum and M. triplex). NTM were not isolated from PM collected from cave with the speleotherapy facility although mycobacterial DNA was detected in 8 (14.3%) samples. Temperature (8.2 °C, range 8.0-8.4 °C) and relative humidity (94.7%, range 93.6-96.6%) of air in this cave were relatively constant. The average PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentration was 5.49 µg m-3 and 11.1 µg m-3. Analysed anions (i.e., F-, Cl-, NO2-, SO42-, PO43- and NO3-) originating largely from the burning of wood and coal for residential heating in nearby villages in the surrounding area. The air in the caves with speleotherapy facilities should be monitored with respect to NTM, PM and anions to ensure a safe environment.

Department of Biochemistry and Genetics La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science La Trobe University Bundoora Melbourne VIC 3086 Australia

Faculty of AgriSciences Mendel University in Brno Zemedelska 1 1665 613 00 Brno Czech Republic

Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies Mendel University in Brno Tr Generala Piky 7 613 00 Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the CAS Veveri 97 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Public Health Institute Ostrava Partyzanske Nam 7 702 00 Ostrava Czech Republic

Transport Research Centre Lisenska 33a 636 00 Brno Czech Republic

Veterinary Research Institute Hudcova 70 621 00 Brno Czech Republic

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Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: Ecology and Impact on Animal and Human Health