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Indoor air of dairy industry acts as a source or vehicle of microbial contamination affecting both food safety and product shelf life. This research focused on both the monitoring of the air microbial load in selected areas of a dairy factory and in evaluating the effect of air disinfection through ozonation or chemical aerosolization by hydrogen peroxide. The air microbial load was weekly monitored in the autumn/winter season after the routinely applied sanitation procedures. Air samplings, through impaction method, were carried out in 3 critical areas (cheese making, storage and packaging). Total bacteria, moulds and yeasts resulted in mean counts of 161 (± 154) MPN m-3, 228 (± 234) MPN m-Reviewer #1: Commentary Ms. Ref. No.: FOODCONT-D-18-01908 Title: Effectiveness of air disinfection by ozonation or hydrogen peroxide aerosolization in dairy environments To simplify reading, our answers are in a black typeface and the original points raised by the Reviewer are in black bold. Reviewed document is a research with the aim to study the presence of culturable bacteria, moulds and yeasts in the air within some critical areas of an artisanal dairy factory. The effectiveness of two alternative air disinfection techniques (ozonation and hydrogen peroxide aerosolization) to reduce air contamination was investigated. Moreover, the identification of residual microorganisms in the indoor environment, after air disinfection, was considered. Abstract seems to be sufficient to understand the performed work. I included remarks in the text below. Introduction: Introduction is correct, to focus in the microbiological air pollution control. However, it is not considered the toxic potential of ozone to manipulators. The final ozone concentration in the air is really important. The US Clean Air Act has set an ozone level of 120 mcg/m3 as an 8 hr mean concentration to protect the health of workers. Evaluation of some studies allows establishing an average environmental ozone concentration of 90 +-10 mcg/m3 (Velio Bocci, Emma Borrelli, Valter Travagli, and Iacopo Zanardi. 2009. The Ozone Paradox: Ozone is a strong oxidant as well as a medical drug. Medicinal Research Reviews, 29(4):646-682). When ozone is included in a reseaarch work, a control of the final oxidizing chemical must be included, to assure the workers security. This is not included in the paper. AU: We thank the Reviewer for Her/His comments. We agree with the Reviewer on the relevance of personnel exposure to ozone in view of safety and health related aspects. As reported in the manuscript, we did not measure residual concentration of ozone after treatment. The manufacturer of the generator certified that in the treated room a time span of 20 min was sufficient to guarantee its autodecomposition at levels < 0.02 ppm (the equivalent of < 0.04 mg/m 3). The manufacturer provided us only with these data after measurements carried out with a continuous ozone analyzer under the conditions adopted (room volume and time of treatment). Furthermore, under our experimental condit...

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