Is airborne eDNA the next frontier in environmental monitoring?

For decades, environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring has been transforming how we understand ecosystems, from tracing elusive species in river water to uncovering viral threats in soil.  

Now, a new frontier is opening: the atmosphere itself.

Airborne eDNA is emerging as a viable tool for tracking everything from wildlife to pathogens, with applications spanning biodiversity assessment, pandemic preparedness, and even genomic surveillance.  

For environmental instrumentation users, it raises a compelling question: is airborne eDNA one of the markets of the future?

If you're looking for a new instrument to monitor ambient air, take a look at our international directory of companies supplying air monitoring equipment.

From proof of concept to proof of value

Recent studies have shown that air carries far more biological information than previously appreciated.  

Using air pumps, filters, and advanced sequencing techniques like nanopore and shotgun sequencing, researchers have identified the DNA of mammals, birds, viruses and even humans in floating particulates.  

In Florida, scientists were able to detect the presence of bobcats, bats, and ospreys using nothing more than DNA suspended in air. 

In Dublin, airborne samples revealed a global cross-section of human DNA alongside more than 200 pathogens.

The turnaround is getting faster. Some field labs now extract, sequence, and analyse airborne DNA in just 48 hours.

New devices, some as small as a USB stick, can sequence DNA on site and transmit results to the cloud.  

For environmental monitoring professionals used to dealing with discrete pollutants or chemical signatures, the idea of capturing a snapshot of an entire biome in real-time is a potential game-changer.

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Use cases: wildlife, pathogens and beyond

1. Biodiversity monitoring and credit schemes

Airborne eDNA could revolutionise biodiversity assessments, offering a non-invasive way to track species in conservation zones, parks, or development sites.  

Its ability to detect endangered or keystone species could underpin biodiversity credit schemes, similar to carbon credits, by verifying conservation outcomes or habitat quality.

2. Pathogen detection and disease tracking

From bat caves to poultry farms, airborne eDNA has already been used to monitor viruses like influenza and other respiratory pathogens.  

Devices like AeroCollect, developed for use in live animal markets, offer a low-contact alternative to traditional swabbing, making them invaluable in high-risk or remote locations. 

The technology is also being explored for use in drones and autonomous vehicles to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

3. Antimicrobial resistance and bioprospecting

Airborne samples have been shown to contain markers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), allowing early detection of dangerous mutations. 

In parallel, shotgun sequencing enables researchers to discover novel enzymes and microbial strains (useful in drug development and industrial applications) directly from the air.

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Instrumentation and technological needs

For airborne eDNA to scale beyond research labs, it must be matched by robust, field-ready instrumentation:

• Air samplers with HEPA-grade filters to capture micro-particulates containing DNA
• Miniaturised, ruggedised sequencers capable of in-field analysis (e.g., Oxford Nanopore's MinION)
• Real-time bioinformatics software to sort genetic data into taxonomic categories
• Standardised data protocols for integrating results into different systems, like biodiversity databases and pathogen tracking systems.

Existing environmental monitoring companies, especially those involved in air quality or ambient particulate sensing, could feasibly integrate eDNA-capable modules into future product lines.

Opportunities:

• Opens up entirely new verticals: from conservation to agriculture to epidemiology
• Enables high-resolution, continuous surveillance over time and space
• Supports multi-stakeholder use: regulators, NGOs, private landowners, and public health agencies

Challenges:

• Bioinformatics pipelines must become faster and more user-friendly
• Sample contamination and false positives remain risks, especially for rare targets
• Regulatory frameworks do not yet account for airborne DNA data in most regions
• Ethical oversight is urgently needed to address concerns about human genomic data collection

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Looking ahead

As sequencing becomes cheaper and algorithms more refined, environmental monitoring professionals will have a new suite of parameters for tracking ecosytems.

Instrumentation users should begin thinking now about the sensors, filters, data standards, and ethical frameworks that would support such applications.