Evaluation of Four Bioaerosol samplers in the Outdoor Environment

Cage, Brian R; Schreiber, Keith; Portnoy, Jay M.; Barnes, Charles S.

doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)63339-x

Cited by 35 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Several factors affect microbe collection and survival in bioaerosol samplers and hence the accuracy of enumeration. In comparison, the impingement method may not be as suitable for fungal bioaerosols as the impaction method due to the hydrophobic nature of many fungal spores (Cage et al, 1996). Our results showed that the Andersen impactor was also more efficient in terms of capturing bacterial aerosols.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Assessment of Airborne Particles in Indoor Environments: Applicability of Particle Counting for Prediction of Bioaerosol Concentrations

Mirhoseini

Nikaeen

Satoh

et al. 2016

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Indoor bioaerosols have recently received considerable interest because of their impact on health. In this study, concentrations of bioaerosols in relation to airborne particulate matter in various indoor environments were investigated. The comparative performance of two common biosamplers, including the single-stage Andersen impactor and the all-glass impinger (AGI) for bioaerosol sampling, was also evaluated. The average levels of airborne bacteria and fungi sampled by Andersen were 516 and 176 colony forming units (CFU) m -3 and by AGI were 163 and 151 CFU m -3 , respectively. The highest bacterial levels were measured in residence apartments. The most predominant bacteria were belonged to Staphylococcus sp. and Arthrobacter sp. The Andersen impactor appeared to yield fungal concentrations that were comparable to the results obtained using the AGI biosampler. Meanwhile, Andersen impactor counts for bacteria were significantly higher than those obtained by AGI. Particle count data generated by the optical particle counter indicated that 95% of airborne particles were < 1 µm in diameter. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between particle counts of PM 1 and concentrations of culturable airborne bacteria measured with the both bioaerosol samplers.Based on these results, the Andersen impactor performed much better than the AGI for sampling airborne bioaerosols in low-contaminated indoor environments. Accurate measurement of microbial concentrations in indoor environments should be performed by bioaerosol monitoring; however, combining particle counting with bioaerosol sampling could provide prompt information about rapid variations of air quality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Assessment of Airborne Particles in Indoor Environments: Applicability of Particle Counting for Prediction of Bioaerosol Concentrations

Mirhoseini

Nikaeen

Satoh

et al. 2016

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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“…Two samplers were employed for the collection of airborne trichothecene mycotoxins, namely, a SpinCon PAS 450-10 bioaerosol sampler (Sceptor Industries, Inc., Kansas City, MO) and an Andersen GPS-1 polyurethane foam (PUF) high-volume air sampler (Thermo Electron Corporation, Cheswick, PA). The SpinCon sampler has been evaluated in the outdoor environment and has been determined to be a highly effective air sampling device (3,5). From October 2001 to September 2002, the SpinCon sampler was employed for the collection of airborne Bacillus anthracis in buildings throughout the Washington, D.C., area following the well-known bioterrorism attack on that area (21).…”

Section: Materials and Methods Indoor Environments (I) Test Environmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of AirborneStachybotrys chartarumMacrocyclic Trichothecene Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment

Brasel

Martin

Carriker

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

115

103

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The existence of airborne mycotoxins in mold-contaminated buildings has long been hypothesized to be a potential occupant health risk. However, little work has been done to demonstrate the presence of these compounds in such environments. The presence of airborne macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins in indoor environments with known Stachybotrys chartarum contamination was therefore investigated. In seven buildings, air was collected using a high-volume liquid impaction bioaerosol sampler (SpinCon PAS 450-10) under static or disturbed conditions. An additional building was sampled using an Andersen GPS-1 PUF sampler modified to separate and collect particulates smaller than conidia. Four control buildings (i.e., no detectable S. chartarum growth or history of water damage) and outdoor air were also tested. Samples were analyzed using a macrocyclic trichothecene-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA specificity was tested using phosphate-buffered saline extracts of the fungal genera Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Memnoniella, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma, five Stachybotrys strains, and the indoor air allergens Can f 1, Der p 1, and Fel d 1. For test buildings, the results showed that detectable toxin concentrations increased with the sampling time and short periods of air disturbance. Trichothecene values ranged from <10 to >1,300 pg/m 3 of sampled air. The control environments demonstrated statistically significantly (P < 0.001) lower levels of airborne trichothecenes. ELISA specificity experiments demonstrated a high specificity for the trichothecene-producing strain of S. chartarum. Our data indicate that airborne macrocyclic trichothecenes can exist in Stachybotrys-contaminated buildings, and this should be taken into consideration in future indoor air quality investigations.For the past 25 years, there has been growing concern about the presence of fungi and their adverse human health effects in indoor environments. Several genera of fungi, including Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, and Aspergillus, have raised particular concern because of their associated toxin production. To date, the majority of indoor air quality investigations have focused on analyses of mold growth on building materials (1,18,35,40) and measurements of airborne particulate matter, including dust, fungal conidia (6, 20), and animal danders (13). These types of investigations cannot directly assess occupant exposure to mycotoxins. Exposure to these factors can influence allergic hypersensitivity responses (2, 9, 29) and symptoms of asthma in certain individuals (11, 30) but most likely does not account for often-reported symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, nose bleeds, physical and mental fatigue, and neurological disorders (28, 39) seen in subjects occupying sick buildings.Among the many fungi isolated from contaminated indoor environments, Stachybotrys chartarum is one of the most well known. S. chartarum is a known producer of a number of potent mycotoxins, in particular the macrocyclic tricho...

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“…Many papers have been published, in which the efficiency of different samplers is evaluated and compared. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] The results are always the same: the final counts differ from one device to the next. Thus 'there is often no obvious choice of the correct sampler to use '.…”

Section: Active Air Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%