Bioaerosol

About: Bioaerosol is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1347 publications have been published within this topic receiving 34791 citations.

Bioaerosol data distribution: probability and implications for sampling in evaluating problematic buildings.

Abstract: Airborne fungal contamination in the indoor environment is a substantial contributor to indoor air quality (IAQ) problems, yet there are no set numerical standards by which to evaluate air sampling data. Intuitively appealing is the operational model that the indoor air should not be significantly different from the outdoor air, but determining what is "significant" as well as where to sample and how many samples to collect to determine significance have not been firmly established. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of samples and their locations necessary to determine significant differences in airborne fungi between the ambient and indoor environments. Sampling results from several hundred air samples for culturable fungi from various sites were used to derive a probability of detection in the outdoor air for problematic or "marker" fungal species. Under the assumption that indoor fungal growth results in an increase in the probability of detection for a given fungal species, mathema...

Effect of a Diffused Essential Oil Blend on Bacterial Bioaerosols

Abstract: Thieves, a commercial blend of five essential oils, was tested for its antibacterial activity against Micrococcus lutens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bioaerosols. An aerosol suspension of each bacterial culture was sprayed into a 0.4 m(3) enclosed fume hood previously sterilized by ultraviolet light. Thieves essential oil blend was then diffused into the hood for a given time. Depositional sampling results showed a significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in the aerosol-borne bacterial load after diffusion of the oil blend. Controls showed no inhibitory effect of oil that may have settled on the exposed plate surfaces during bacterial depositional sampling. Inhibition levels appear to be organism specific. There was an 82% reduction in M. luteus bioaerosol, a 96% reduction in the P. aeruginosa bioaerosol, and a 44% reduction in the S. aureus bioaerosol following 10 min of exposure. Results for the time exposure threshold of diffused oil showed that after only six min a 90% reduction in M. luteus viability occurred. Diffusion of the oil blend, Thieves, can significantly reduce the number of aerosol-borne bacteria and may have application in treating air for enclosed environments and preventing transmission of aerosol-borne bacterial pathogens.

Microbial contamination level and microbial diversity of occupational environment in commercial and traditional dairy plants.

Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to assess microbial contamination of the air and surfaces at workplaces in commercial (CD) and traditional (TD) dairies. Material and methods Bioaerosol (impactor) and surface (swab) samples were collected in CD and in TD. Bacterial and fungal concentrations in the air and on surfaces were calculated and all isolated microorganisms taxonomically identified, based on their morphological, biochemical and molecular features. Results Average concentrations of bacterial aerosol ranged between 70-860 CFU/m3 and 265-14639 CFU/m3, while for fungal aerosol were between 50-290 CFU/m3 and 55-480 CFU/m3 in CD and TD, respectively. Average bacterial concentrations on surfaces ranged between 1.0-49.7 CFU/cm2 and 0.2-60.4 CFU/cm2, whereas average fungal surface contamination ranged between 0-2.7 CFU/cm2 and 0-4.6 CFU/cm2 in CD and TD, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed mainly the presence of saprophytic microorganisms; however, several pathogenic strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus intermedius, Clostridium perfringens, Actinomyces spp., Streptomyces spp., Candida albicans) were also isolated from both the air and surface samples in the studied dairies. Conclusions The air and surfaces in TD were more polluted than those in CD; however, in both types of dairies, the levels of microbial contaminants did not exceed respective threshold limit values. Nevertheless, the presence of pathogenic microorganisms may increase health risk for dairy workers and influence the quality of products. Hence, proper hygienic measures should be introduced and performed to guarantee high microbial quality of both production processes and milk products.

Assessment of fungal bioaerosol emission in the vicinity of a landfill site in Mumbai, India

Abstract: Mumbai is one of the metropolitan cities of India with population of 12.4 million. Local governing authority of Mumbai is facing challenges of solid waste management generated in the city in recent years. Municipal solid waste of the city is disposed in the two open landfill sites which are located in the city. Unhygienic disposal of solid waste is a potential threat to the people living in the vicinity of the dumpsite areas. The present investigation is based on the concentration of fungal bioaerosol around the Deonar landfill site, which is one of the major landfills in Mumbai. Maximum concentration of fungal bioaerosol was observed in monsoon season (620-1450 cfu/m3) and minimum in winter season (430-740 cfu/m3). During summer fungal bioaerosol concentration was 570-1000 cfu/m3. Environmental factors such as relative humidity and wind speed shows positive correlation with culturable aeromycoflora. Prevalent species registered were Aspergillus, Peniciliium, Alternaria, Curvularia, Trichoderma and Rhizopus.