Fluorescence Particle Counter for Detecting Airborne Bacteria and Other Biological Particles

Pinnick, Ronald G.; Hill, Steven C.; Nachman, Paul; Pendleton, J. D.; Fernandez, G.; Mayo, Michael W.; Bruno, John G.

doi:10.1080/02786829508965345

Cited by 113 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…One important technique is based on ultraviolet laser/light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF), originally developed by military research communities for the rapid detection of bio-warfare agents (BWA) (e.g., Hill et al, 2001Hill et al, , 1999Pinnick et al, 1995). More recently, UV-LIF instrumentation has been commercialized for application toward civilian research in fields related to atmospheric and exposure science.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic characterization and fluorescence threshold strategies for the wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS) using size-resolved biological and interfering particles

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Atmospheric particles of biological origin, also referred to as bioaerosols or primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP), are important to various human health and environmental systems. There has been a recent steep increase in the frequency of published studies utilizing commercial instrumentation based on ultraviolet laser/light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF), such as the WIBS (wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor) or UV-APS (ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer), for bioaerosol detection both outdoors and in the built environment. Significant work over several decades supported the development of the general technologies, but efforts to systematically characterize the operation of new commercial sensors have remained lacking. Specifically, there have been gaps in the understanding of how different classes of biological and non-biological particles can influence the detection ability of LIF instrumentation. Here we present a systematic characterization of the WIBS-4A instrument using 69 types of aerosol materials, including a representative list of pollen, fungal spores, and bacteria as well as the most important groups of non-biological materials reported to exhibit interfering fluorescent properties. Broad separation can be seen between the biological and non-biological particles directly using the five WIBS output parameters and by taking advantage of the particle classification analysis introduced by Perring et al. (2015). We highlight the importance that particle size plays on observed fluorescence properties and thus in the Perring-style particle classification. We also discuss several particle analysis strategies, including the commonly used fluorescence threshold defined as the mean instrument background (forced trigger; FT) plus 3 standard deviations (σ ) of the measurement. Changing the particle fluorescence threshold was shown to have a significant impact on fluorescence fraction and particle type classification. We conclude that raising the fluorescence threshold from FT + 3σ to FT + 9σ does little to reduce the relative fraction of biological material considered fluorescent but can significantly reduce the interference from mineral dust and other non-biological aerosols. We discuss examples of highly fluorescent interfering particles, such as brown carbon, diesel soot, and cotton fibers, and how these may impact WIBS analysis and data interpretation in various indoor and outdoor environments. The performance of the particle asymmetry factor (AF) reported by the instrument was assessed across particle types as a function of particle size, and comments on the reliability of this parameter are given. A comprehensive online supplement is provided, which includes size distributions broken down by fluorescent particle type for all 69 aerosol materials and comparing threshold strategies. Lastly, the study was designed to propose analysis strategies that may be useful to the broader community of UV-LIF instrumentation users in order to promote deeper discussions about how best to continue i...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic characterization and fluorescence threshold strategies for the wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS) using size-resolved biological and interfering particles

et al. 2017

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“…Real-time measurement would aid in understanding regional and global emissions, transport and abundance of PBAP (Burrows et al, 2009;Heald and Spracklen, 2009;Huffman et al, 2010). Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) based instruments are modern, easy-to-use tools for real-time bioaerosol detection (e.g., Hill et al, 1995;Pinnick et al, 1995;Ho, 2002;Jeys et al, 2007;Pöhlker et al, 2012). The LIF technique is an effective method for detecting biological molecules such as tryptophan, NADH and flavins that are present in microbe cells (Lakowicz, 2006;Hill et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and Diurnal Variations of Fluorescent Bioaerosol Concentration and Size Distribution in the Urban Environment

Saari

Niemi

Rönkkö

et al. 2015

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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A recently introduced fluorescence based real-time bioaerosol instrument, BioScout, and an ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UVAPS) were used to study fluorescent bioaerosol particles (FBAP) in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland, during winter and summer. Two FBAP modes at 0.5-1.5 µm (fine) and 1.5-5 µm (coarse) were detected during the summer, whereas the fine mode dominated in the winter. The concentration and proportion of the coarse FBAP was high in summer (0.028 #/cm 3 , 23%) and low in winter (0.010 #/cm 3 , 6%). Snow cover and low biological activity were assumed to be the main reasons for the low coarse FBAP concentration in the wintertime. Both the fine and the coarse FBAP fraction typically increased at nighttime during the summer. Correlations between the BioScout and the UVAPS were high with the coarse (R = 0.83) and fine (R = 0.92) FBAP. The BioScout showed 2.6 and 9.7 times higher detection efficiencies for the coarse and fine FBAP, respectively, compared to the UVAPS. A long-range transport episode of particles from Eastern Europe increased the fine FBAP concentration by over two orders of magnitude compared to the clean period in the winter, but these FBAP probably also included fluorescent non-biological particles. Correlation analysis indicates that local combustion sources did not generate fluorescent non-biological particles that can disturb fine FBAP counting. The results provide information that can be used to estimate health risks and climatic relevance of bioaerosols in the urban environment.

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“…These can be divided into three groups. The first group includes trials and studies to design and test an instrument capable of differentiating between biological and non biological aerosols such as a Fluorescence Spectrum Analyser and an Ultraviolet Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (UVAPS) (Brosseau et al, 2000;Chen et al, 1996;Hariston et al, 1997;Hill et al, 1995;Ho et al, 1999;Kaye et al, 2000;Nachman et al, 1996;Pan et al, 2003;Pinnick et al, 1998;Pinnick et al, 1995). The second group of studies aimed at designing and testing an instrument with the capability to characterise particle composition in order to discriminate between the bioaerosols themselves (Cheng et al, 1999;Pan et al, 1999;Seaver et al, 1999;Sivaprakasam et al, 2004;Weichert et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance assessment of UVAPS: Influence of fungal spore age and air exposure

Kanaani

Hargreaves

Ristovski

et al. 2007

Journal of Aerosol Science

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This work focused on two main outcomes. The first was the assessment of the response of the Ultraviolet Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Spectrometer (UVAPS) for two different fungal spore species.The UVAPS response was investigated as a function of fungal age and the frequency of air current that their colonies exposure to. This outcome was achieved through the measurement of fungal spore fluorescent percentage and fluorescent intensity throughout a period of culturing time (three weeks), and the study of their fluorescent percentage as a function of exposure to air currents. The second objective was to investigate the change of fungal spore size during this period, which may be of use as a co-factor in this differentiation. Fungal spores were released by blowing the surface of the culture colonies with continuous filtered flow air. The UVAPS was used to detect and measure autofluorescing biomolecules such as riboflavin and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P)H) present in the released fungal spores.The study demonstrated an increase in aerodynamic diameter for fungal spores under investigation (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium species) over a period of time. The fluorescent percentage of spores was found to decrease for both fungal genera as they aged. It was also found that the fluorescent percentage for tested fungi decreased with frequency of air exposure. The results showed that, while the UVAPS could discriminate between Aspergillus and Penicillium species under well-controlled laboratory conditions, it is unlikely to be able to do so in the field.

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Fluorescence Particle Counter for Detecting Airborne Bacteria and Other Biological Particles

Cited by 113 publications

References 23 publications

Systematic characterization and fluorescence threshold strategies for the wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS) using size-resolved biological and interfering particles

Systematic characterization and fluorescence threshold strategies for the wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS) using size-resolved biological and interfering particles

Seasonal and Diurnal Variations of Fluorescent Bioaerosol Concentration and Size Distribution in the Urban Environment

Performance assessment of UVAPS: Influence of fungal spore age and air exposure

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