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Collection of fungal spores on air filters and spore reentrainment from filters into air

Jankowska, E., Reponen, T., Willeke, K., Grinshpun, S. A. and Choi, K.
2000
Journal of Aerosol Science, 31, 8, p 969-978

Jankowska, E., Reponen, T., Willeke, K., Grinshpun, S. A. and Choi, K., (2000), "Collection of fungal spores on air filters and spore reentrainment from filters into air", Journal of Aerosol Science, 31, 8, p 969-978.
Abstract:
The collection of fungal spores on ventilation filters and their potential for subsequent reentrainment were compared with the collection and reentrainment of standard test particles. Potassium chloride (KCl) particles were selected as the standard test particles, as recommended by the ASHRAE standard 52.2. Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium melinii were selected to represent common fungal spores in indoor air. Two commonly used filters were tested: medium-efficiency filter medium A from a prefilter and higher efficiency medium B from a fine filter. The collection efficiencies of filters were determined at a face velocity to the pleated filter assembly of 2.54 m s-1, which is typical for both filters. The collection efficiency was found to be slightly lower for fungal spores than for KCl particles of the same aerodynamic size. When the reentrainment velocity was the same as the loading velocity through the filter medium (0.56 m s-1 for A, 0.09 m s-1 for B), the reentrainment rate was less than 0.4%. When the reentrainment velocity was increased to 3.00 m s-1, the reentrainment of fungal spores was higher than that of KCl particles: 2-6% for P. brevicompactum, 5-12% for P. melinii, and 0.2-0.6% for KCl particles. The differences in behaviour between fungal spores and KCl particles were attributed to aggregation and deaggregation of fungal spores. The higher reentrainment rate of P. melinii compared to that of P. brevicompactum can be explained by the different surface structure of these spores. The results suggest that during the startup of a ventilation system or during other operations, when the air velocity may suddenly increase, reentrainment of fungal spores can be significant. Furthermore, if fungal spores grow on the ventilation filters, the reentrainment rate may become even higher than measured in this study.
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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Jankowska, E.
     
Reponen, T.
  1. Aerodynamic diameters and respiratory deposition estimates of viable fungal particles in mold problem dwellings
  2. Aerodynamic versus physical size of spores: measurement and implication for respiratory deposition
  3. Aerosol characteristics of airborne actinomycetes and fungi
  4. Bioaerosol collection by a new electrostatic precipitator
  5. Characteristics of airborne actinomycete spores
  6. Collection of airborne microorganisms by a new electrostatic precipitator
  7. Collection of airborne spores by circular single-stage impactors with small jet-to-plate distance
  8. Collection of bioaerosol particles by impaction: effect of fungal spore agglomeration and bounce
  9. Comparison of concentrations and size distributions of fungal spores in buildings with and without mould problems
  10. Control of exposure to airborne viable microorganisms during remediation of moldy buildings; report of three case studies
  11. Development and evaluation of aerosol generators for biological materials
  12. Effect of building frame and moisture damage on microbiological indoor air quality in school buildings
  13. Effect of indoor sources on fungal spore concentrations and size distributions
  14. Effect of relative humidity on the aerodynamic diameter and respiratory deposition of fungal spores
  15. Evaluation of a new personal sampler for enumerating airborne spores
  16. Everyday activities and variation of fungal spore concentrations in indoor air
  17. Field Testing of New Aerosol Sampling Method With a Porous Curved Surface as Inlet
  18. Fungal fragments as indoor air biocontaminants
  19. Fungal spore source strength tester: laboratory evaluation of a new concept
  20. Long-term sampling of airbome bacteria and fungi into a non-evaporating liquid
  21. Performance of Air-O-Cell, Burkard, and Button samplers for total enumeration of airborne spores
  22. Personal exposures and microenvironmental concentrations of particles and bioaerosols
  23. Release of Streptomyces albus propagules from contaminated surfaces
  24. Size distributions of airborne microbes in moisture-damaged and reference school buildings of two construction types
  25. Techniques for dispersion of microorganisms into air
  26. Total and culturable airborne bacteria and fungi in arid region flood-damaged residences
  27. Viable fungal spores as indoor aerosols  
Willeke, K.
  1. Aerosol characteristics of airborne actinomycetes and fungi
  2. Bioaerosol collection by a new electrostatic precipitator
  3. Characteristics of airborne actinomycete spores
  4. Collection of airborne microorganisms by a new electrostatic precipitator
  5. Collection of bioaerosol particles by impaction: effect of fungal spore agglomeration and bounce
  6. Development and evaluation of aerosol generators for biological materials
  7. Effect of impact stress on microbial recovery on an agar surface
  8. Effect of relative humidity on the aerodynamic diameter and respiratory deposition of fungal spores
  9. Evaluation of a new personal sampler for enumerating airborne spores
  10. Fungal fragments as indoor air biocontaminants
  11. Improved aerosol collection by combined impaction and centrifugal motion
  12. Inlet sampling efficiency of bioaerosol samplers
  13. Long-term sampling of airbome bacteria and fungi into a non-evaporating liquid
  14. Performance characteristics of the button personal inhalable aerosol sampler
  15. Performance of Air-O-Cell, Burkard, and Button samplers for total enumeration of airborne spores
  16. Performance of bioaerosol samplers: collection characteristics and sampler design considerations
  17. Release of lead-containing particles from a wall enclosure
  18. Release of Streptomyces albus propagules from contaminated surfaces
  19. Source strength of fungal spore aerosolization from moldy building material
  20. Techniques for dispersion of microorganisms into air  
Grinshpun, S. A.
  1. Aerodynamic versus physical size of spores: measurement and implication for respiratory deposition
  2. Aerosol characteristics of airborne actinomycetes and fungi
  3. Bioaerosol collection by a new electrostatic precipitator
  4. Characteristics of airborne actinomycete spores
  5. Collection of airborne microorganisms by a new electrostatic precipitator
  6. Collection of airborne spores by circular single-stage impactors with small jet-to-plate distance
  7. Collection of bioaerosol particles by impaction: effect of fungal spore agglomeration and bounce
  8. Development and evaluation of aerosol generators for biological materials
  9. Effect of impact stress on microbial recovery on an agar surface
  10. Effect of relative humidity on the aerodynamic diameter and respiratory deposition of fungal spores
  11. Evaluation of a new personal sampler for enumerating airborne spores
  12. Field Testing of New Aerosol Sampling Method With a Porous Curved Surface as Inlet
  13. Fungal fragments as indoor air biocontaminants
  14. Fungal spore source strength tester: laboratory evaluation of a new concept
  15. Improved aerosol collection by combined impaction and centrifugal motion
  16. Inlet sampling efficiency of bioaerosol samplers
  17. Long-term sampling of airbome bacteria and fungi into a non-evaporating liquid
  18. Performance characteristics of the button personal inhalable aerosol sampler
  19. Performance of Air-O-Cell, Burkard, and Button samplers for total enumeration of airborne spores
  20. Release of lead-containing particles from a wall enclosure
  21. Release of Streptomyces albus propagules from contaminated surfaces
  22. Techniques for dispersion of microorganisms into air  
Choi, K.
     


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