The results of this study demonstrate that the decay rate of spores contained in clusters is proportional to the overall particle size, and that it is harder to inactivate large clusters on surfaces.

Four commercially available batch-type bioaerosol samplers, which collect time-integrated samples in liquids, were evaluated. Sampling efficiency was characterized as a function of particle size using near-monodisperse polystyrene spheres (sizes of 1-5 µm) and oleic acid droplets (3-10 µm). Results show the sampling efficiency of AGI-30 impingers range from 4-67% for particle sizes of 1 to 5.1 µm with significant variations between units; those of SKC BioSampler impingers range from 34-105% for particle sizes from 1 to 9 µm; those of a batch-type wetted wall cyclone with compensation for evaporation (BWWC-EC) range from 5 to 65% for particle sizes 1 to 10 µm; and, those of a batch-type wetted wall cyclone with no evaporation compensation (BWWC-NC) range of 55 to 88% for particle sizes of 1-8 µm. Retention efficiency was measured for 1 and 10 µm polystyrene spheres. For the AGI-30 and BWWC-EC, the retention efficiency of 1 µm particles after 1 h was less than 30%, while that of the SKC BioSampler was 59%. Due to liquid evaporation, the BWWC-NC could not be operated for 1 h. Retention efficiencies for Bacillus atrophaeus spores and Pantoea agglomerans vegetative cells were measured for the AGI-30 and the SKC BioSampler. Results for the spores were about the same as those for 1 µm non-viable polystyrene particles; however, the vegetative bacteria lose culturability and consequently show lower retention efficiencies. For the impingers, significant performance differences were observed in units delivered by vendors at different times.

Exposure assessment of biological aerosols requires trade-offs between efficient sampling of airborne microorganisms as either particles or viable units. The main objective of this work was to characterize aspects of bioaerosol measurement efficiency. A known concentration of the vegetative bacteria Pantoea agglomerans was spiked onto different samplers (AGI-30, BioSampler, and membrane filters) and then run for increasing time periods using HEPA filtered air. Measurement efficiency was evaluated based on total, viable, and culturable counts. Total and viable counts were determined by flow-cytometry (FCM); culturable counts were evaluated by standard plating. FCM as a method for assaying viability showed excellent agreement with known proportions of live/dead organisms (slope = 0.82, R(2) = 0.99). P. agglomerans recoveries (total, viable, and culturable) in order of best sampler performance included the BioSampler (75%, 52%, and 50%), filtration (50%, 13%, and 2%), and the AGI-30 (<30%, 15%, and 5%). The difference between viability and culturability provided an indication of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. VBNC efficiency for sampling by filter, AGI-30, and BioSampler was 80%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. This research helps characterize recovery, survival, and culturability efficiencies while sampling environmentally sensitive airborne bacteria for purposes of exposure assessment, epidemiologic studies, and homeland security.

We compared the UV sensitivity of Bacillus atrophaeus (a surrogate for B. anthracis), Pantoea agglomerans (a bacterial simulant frequently used in biodefense studies), and Yersinia ruckeri (a surrogate for Yersinia pestis) either airborne or deposited on a semisolid (wet) agar surface. Bacterial vegetative cells were aerosolized into an exposure chamber and exposed for various lengths of time to an ultraviolet (UV) light source emitting at 254 nanometer (nm) (in the UVC region also known as UVGI). Aerosols were collected onto gelatin filters, which were dissolved, diluted, plated, and incubated to enumerate colony formation. In darkness (with the UV light

Humans contract a variety of serious diseases through inhalation of infectious aerosols. Thus, the importance of monitoring air for microbial, toxic, or allergic content is recognized in clinical, occupational, and biodefense arenas. However, accurate monitoring of potentially contaminated environments can be hampered by selection of aerosol samplers with inadequate performance for the intended task. In this study, 29 aerosol samplers were evaluated based on their respective air flow, size, weight, power consumption, and efficiency in sampling particles in the respirable range. The resulting data demonstrates that sampling air flow and efficiency vary widely, and cannot be predicted from the physical characteristics of air samplers, and hence, that proper selection of air samplers should be more involved than shopping for a device based on the limited characteristics that are published by the manufacturers. The findings are summarized in an approach to rationally select bioaerosol samplers for use in infection control and environmental biomonitoring. The presented data demonstrates that inadequate selection of air samplers could result in a failure to collect particles of interest and thus, underestimate the risk and provide a false sense of security in contaminated health care settings and environments contaminated with infectious or toxic aerosols.

Aims:  Generally it is more economical to first characterize a concentrator system with nonbiological particles followed by more rigorous bioaerosol testing. This study compares sampling system performance for varions particle types and sizes. Methods and Results:  Performances of five concentrators were characterized with five nonviable and viable laboratory aerosols, although not every concentrator was tested with all aerosol types. For particle sizes less than c. 6 μm aerodynamic diameter, similar efficiencies are obtained for all test particles; however, for larger sizes there is a significant difference between liquid and dry particles. Conclusions:  Aluminium oxide particles provide results over a broad range of sizes with a single test, but the method is less reproducible than other methods. A combination of monodisperse polystyrene spheres and oleic acid droplets provides an accurate representation of the system performance, but ultimately biological particle tests are needed. Significance and Impact of the Study:  Devices are being developed for concentrating bioaerosol particles in the size range of 1–10 μm aerodynamic diameter and this study provides insight into data quality for different test methodologies. Also, the results show some current concentrators perform quite poorly.

We describe methodology to reveal the number of microbial spores within aerosol particles. The procedure involves visualization under differential-interference-contrast microscopy enhanced by high-resolution photography and further analysis by computerassisted imaging. The method was used to analyze spore of Bacillus globigii in aerosols generated by a small (pressured metered-dose inhaler type) generator. Particles consisting in 1 or 2 spores accounted for 85% of all generated particles. This percentage rose to 91% when the same aerosol was collected on an Andersen cascade impactor that collected particles larger than 0.65 µm and was even higher (96%) when particles larger than 3.3 µm were also eliminated. These results demonstrate that the imaging analysis of aerosol particles collected on glass slides is sensitive to even relatively small changes in aerosol particle composition. The accuracy of the enhanced microscopic method described herein (differences between visual and computer analysis were approximately 3% of the total particle counts) seems adequate to determine the spore composition of aerosols of interest in biodefense.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aerosol generation, relative humidity, and method of sampling on the culturability of the vegetative bacteria Pantoea agglomerans (P. agglomerans) formerly known as Erwinia herbicola. This research has relevance both for the use of this organism as a biowarfare simulant and for bioaerosol exposure assessment and public health. The culturability of P. agglomerans was tested using a test chamber against two generating systems (Collison and Bubble nebulizers), two sampling systems (the all-glass impinger (AGI-30), and the BioSampler), three collection media (water, TSB, and PBS) and across a range of humidities. Results indicated that the Bubble nebulizer was 15% more efficient in generating viable P. agglomerans counts (p ≤ 0.05). No difference was observed in overall efficiency between sampling methods (p > 0.05). However, as a collection media, PBS was observed to yield higher (p ≤ 0.01) viable counts compared to sterile deionized water. Relative humidity was found to strongly influence airborne P. agglomerans culturability. Culturable P. agglomerans was below the limit of detection for RH<15% and then increased in a log-linear fashion to humidities of 75%. This research will help identify optimal means for evaluation of environmentally sensitive airborne bacteria for purposes of exposure assessment and public health as well as homeland security.