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Collection of bioaerosol particles by impaction: effect of fungal spore agglomeration and bounce

Trunov, M., Trakumas, S., Willeke, K., Grinshpun, S. A. and Reponen, T.
2001
Aerosol Science and Technology, v 35, n 1, p 617-624

Trunov, M., Trakumas, S., Willeke, K., Grinshpun, S. A. and Reponen, T., (2001), "Collection of bioaerosol particles by impaction: effect of fungal spore agglomeration and bounce", Aerosol Science and Technology, v 35, n 1, p 617-624.
Abstract:
Calibration and performance evaluations of bioaerosol impactors are usually conducted with non-biological test aerosols, such as polydisperse liquid oleic acid particles or monodisperse solid polystyrene latex (PSL) particles. This study was undertaken to investigate to what degree surface properties and agglomeration of bioaerosol particles may result in different performance characteristics of impactors. The single-stage impaction of biological and non-biological particles on a sticky surface was studied utilizing Air-O-Cell sampling cassettes that are widely used to collect airborne fungal spores. The aerosol concentrations upstream and downstream of the sampler were measured with an aerodynamic particle size spectrometer. The collection efficiency was determined for the sampler operating at different flow rates ranging from 10 to 30 L/min. The tests were performed with aerosol particles of about 1 to 4 μm in diameter, including two fungal species of different surface properties (Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium melinii), and two types of non-biological aerosols (oleic acid and PSL). The 50% cut-off sizes determined experimentally with non-biological particles differed from the theoretical predictions by 11% or less. The data obtained with biological test particles, however, were found to show higher (at low sampling flow rates) or lower (at high flow rates) collection efficiencies than determined through the use of conventional non-biological test particles. E.g., at 30 L/min, the difference is about 50%. The differences were attributed to the presence of spore aggregates and their possible deaggregation during impaction. Inertial impaction, deaggregation, and bounce of fungal spores from the collection surface were studied experimentally and estimated theoretically utilizing experimental data on the percentages of singlets, doublets and triplets in specific bioaerosols. It is concluded that the calibration and performance of bioaerosol impactors may strongly depend on the surface characteristics, initial percentage of aggregates, and deaggregation rate of the specific bioaerosol particles being sampled.
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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Trunov, M.
  1. Collection of airborne spores by circular single-stage impactors with small jet-to-plate distance
  2. Release of lead-containing particles from a wall enclosure  
Trakumas, S.
  1. Release of lead-containing particles from a wall enclosure  
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 fungal spores on air filters and spore reentrainment from filters into air
  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 fungal spores on air filters and spore reentrainment from filters into air
  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  
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 fungal spores on air filters and spore reentrainment from filters into air
  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  


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