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Fungal spore source strength tester: laboratory evaluation of a new concept

Sivasubramani, S. K., Niemeier, R. T., Reponen, T. and Grinshpun, S. A.
2004
Science of the Total Environment, 329 (2004) 75-86

Sivasubramani, S. K., Niemeier, R. T., Reponen, T. and Grinshpun, S. A., (2004), "Fungal spore source strength tester: laboratory evaluation of a new concept", Science of the Total Environment, 329 (2004) 75-86.
Abstract:
The airborne fungal spore concentration measured with air samplers during specific time intervals does not always adequately represent the maximum spore concentration levels, because of the sporadic nature of spore release.Hence, a reliable method is needed to directly assess the indoor fungal sources with respect to their spore aerosolization potential.In this study, the newly developed fungal spore source strength tester (FSSST), which aerosolizes spores from growth surfaces and samples the airborne fungi into a bioaerosol sampler, was evaluated in the laboratory.The FSSST's operational flow rates of 30 and 12.5 lymin were tested.The fungal spores released from moldy surfaces were measured with an optical particle counter.Simultaneously , the spores were collected by a bioaerosol sampler: either with a 37-mm filter cassette or with the BioSampler.Thr ee material types, ceiling tile, gypsum board and plastic sheet coated with agar, were tested after they were inoculated with the fungus Aspergillus versicolor.In addition, gypsum board naturally contaminated with various fungi (obtained from a mold-problem home) was tested in the laboratory using the FSSST.In all three laboratory-inoculated materials, the release rate of A. versicolor was found to be higher when the FSSST operated at 30 lymin than at 12.5 lymin.Nevertheless, even at 12.5 lymin the number of spores aerosolized from the source during 10 min was found sufficient to reflect the highest level of release that may occur in indoor environments.At 12.5 lymin, the release rate of A. versicolor during the first 10- min period was (23.9"17.7)=10 cm for ceiling tile, (1.3"0.3)=10 cm for gypsum board and 4 y2 4y2 (0.13"0.08)=10 cm for agar surface (based on the samples collected with the BioSampler).The spore release 4 y2 rate was higher during the first 10 min than during the second 10 min of the FSSST application.It was observed that the particles aerosolized from the A. versicolor culture included spore aggregates and single spores, as well as mycelial fragments.Overall, 0.6"0.3% of spores detected on 1 cm of ceiling tile inoculated with A. versicolor were 2 aerosolized during the 10-min source testing.The respective number was 9.2"1.0% for the laboratory-inoculated gypsum board, 0.002"0.001% for the laboratory-inoculated plastic covered with agar and 1.8"0.2% for naturally contaminated gypsum board.Our data suggest that the FSSST provides very favorable conditions for the spore aerosolization and thus can be used in the field to ass ess the maximum potential spore release from a fungal source.

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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Sivasubramani, S. K.
     
Niemeier, R. T.
     
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. Collection of fungal spores on air filters and spore reentrainment from filters into air
  10. Comparison of concentrations and size distributions of fungal spores in buildings with and without mould problems
  11. Control of exposure to airborne viable microorganisms during remediation of moldy buildings; report of three case studies
  12. Development and evaluation of aerosol generators for biological materials
  13. Effect of building frame and moisture damage on microbiological indoor air quality in school buildings
  14. Effect of indoor sources on fungal spore concentrations and size distributions
  15. Effect of relative humidity on the aerodynamic diameter and respiratory deposition of fungal spores
  16. Evaluation of a new personal sampler for enumerating airborne spores
  17. Everyday activities and variation of fungal spore concentrations in indoor air
  18. Field Testing of New Aerosol Sampling Method With a Porous Curved Surface as Inlet
  19. Fungal fragments as indoor air biocontaminants
  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  
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. Collection of fungal spores on air filters and spore reentrainment from filters into air
  9. Development and evaluation of aerosol generators for biological materials
  10. Effect of impact stress on microbial recovery on an agar surface
  11. Effect of relative humidity on the aerodynamic diameter and respiratory deposition of fungal spores
  12. Evaluation of a new personal sampler for enumerating airborne spores
  13. Field Testing of New Aerosol Sampling Method With a Porous Curved Surface as Inlet
  14. Fungal fragments as indoor air biocontaminants
  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  


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