• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.133-138
• /
• 2009

Airborne microorganisms, termed bioaerosols, are etiological agents of many respiratory and skin diseases. There are high demands of controlling the concentration of bioaerosols, specifically in indoor environments. Here, a new system for controlling indoor bioaerosols is designed and evaluated. An idea of a short time exposure to a thermal energy is used in the design of the equipment. The system was tested in laboratory environments. The experimental results show that the new system can reduce the concentration of viable bioaerosols of indoor laboratory environments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.176-182
• /
• 2008

In the present study, a control methodology utilizing airborne silver nanoparticles is suggested and tested with respect to its potential to control Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis, and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria bioaerosols deposited on filters. As it is known that the Gram-negative bacteria are sensitive to airflow exposure, the main focus of this study for testing the airborne silver nanoparticles effect was the Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis bacteria bioaerosols whereas Escherichia coli bioaerosols were utilized for comparison. Airborne bacteria and airborne silver nanoparticles were quantitatively generated in an experimental system. Bioaerosols deposited on the filter were exposed to airborne silver nanoparticles. The physical and biological properties of the airborne bacteria and airborne silver nanoparticles were measured via aerosol measurement devices. From the experimental results, it was demonstrated that this method utilizing airborne silver nanoparticles offers potential as a bioaerosol control methodology.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.9
• /
• pp.1288-1295
• /
• 2012

Exposure to bioaerosols causes various adverse health effects including infectious and respiratory diseases, and hypersensitivity. Controlling exposure to bioaerosols is important for disease control and prevention. In this study, we evaluated the efficacies of various functional filters coated with antimicrobial chemicals in deactivating representative microorganisms on filters or as bioaerosols. Tested functional filters were coated with different chemicals that included (i) Ginkgo and sumac, (ii) Ag-apatite and guanidine phosphate, (iii) $SiO_2$, ZnO, and $Al_2O_3$, and (iv) zeolite. To evaluate the filters, we used a model ventilation system (1) to evaluate the removal efficiency of bacteria (Escherichia coli and Legionella pneumophila), bacterial spores (Bacillus subtilis spore), and viruses (MS2 bacteriophage) on various functional filters, and (2) to characterize the removal efficiency of these bioaerosols. All experiments were performed at a constant temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ and humidity of 50%. Most bacteria (excluding B. subtilis) rapidly decreased on the functional filter. Therefore, we confirmed that functional filters have antimicrobial effects. Additionally, we evaluated the removal efficiency of various bioaerosols by these filters. We used a six-jet collision nebulizer to generate microbial aerosols and introduced it into the environmental chamber. We then measured the removal efficiency of functional filters with and without a medium-efficiency filter. Most bioaerosol concentrations did not significantly decrease by the functional filter only but decreased by a combination of functional and medium-efficiency filter. In conclusion, functional filters could facilitate biological removal of various bioaerosols, but physical removal of these by functional was minimal. Proper use of chemical-coated filter materials could reduce exposure to these agents.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.172-180
• /
• 2011

The transfer of microorganisms is important process for ecosystems. Microorganisms in dryland can transport itself to wetland through atmospheric diffusion, but only few papers reported about the atmospheric bioaerosol present over dryland. We carried out the direct sampling using a tethered balloon over Dunhuang City, China's northwestern dryland. Bioaerosols were collected using a tethered balloon with a bioaerosol collector at 820 m above the ground (1,960 m above the sea level) around noon on August 17, 2007. The bioaerosols were cultured after the collection at Dunhuang Meteorological observatory. Two strains of molds were isolated using the Nutrient agar medium. About 400-bp 18S rRNA partial sequences were amplified by PCR and determined afterwards. The results of a homology search by 18S rRNA sequences of isolates in DNA databases (GenBank, DDBJ, and EMBL) and an observation of the form revealed that two bioaerosols in the convective mixed layer over Dunhuang City were Cladosporium sp. and Aspergillus sp.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.904-907
• /
• 2010

The vibration of fungal cultures was evaluated to determine its potential effect on the dispersal of airborne fungal microorganisms suspected of being pathogens. An artificial vibration system, which simulates the actual environmental vibration of fungal structures, was designed and constructed for this purpose. Experiments featured the use of low-frequency vibrations similar to those induced by earthquakes. Within the range of conditions tested, the vibration of fungal cultures was found to affect the airflow-driven generation of bioaerosols.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.795-798
• /
• 2008

As the first step to develop efficient means to control fungal spore bioaerosols, we designed, manufactured, and evaluated a fungal spore aerosol generator. We studied the physical and biological properties of the fungal spore bioaerosols on two common fungal species. The results demonstrated that the fungal spore bioaerosol generator effectively produces fungal spore bioaerosols.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.1684-1689
• /
• 2006

Airborne microorganisms, which are currently termed bioaerosols, have received attention owing to the harmful effects they have on human health. As the concern over airborne microorganisms grows, there also grows an urgent need to study and develop efficient methods for controlling them. In this study, thermal energy using a thermal tube was tested as a control method, mainly against airborne E. coli. For a comparison, B. subtilis var. niger spores were utilized in the experimentation. It was found that the widely known inactivation conditions for microorganisms were not adequate against airborne microorganisms. The experimental results demonstrated the need for extensive studies that should investigate adequate and economic conditions to control against airborne bacteria. In this study, thermal energy exposed by the thermal tube demonstrated an inactivation performance for controlling E. coli bioaerosols.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.324-333
• /
• 2016

Objectives: We aimed to compare the sampling performance of different flow-based impactor samplers for collecting fungal spores and bacteria and to explore the association of the level of bioaerosols with activity patterns of occupants in daycare center settings. Methods: For comparison of sampling performance, two different flow-based samplers (greater than 100 L/min or not) were selected; a low flow-based sampler (one-stage Andersen sampler) and two high flow-based samplers (DUO SAS SUPER 360 sampler, BUCK bio-culture sampler). We collected airborne mold and bacteria in 30 daycare centers with various levels of contaminated air. Three repeat samplings per each sampler were performed. Mold and bacteria were grown for 96 hours at $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and 48 hours at $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, respectively. The Andersen and SAS samplers were used for investigating the association between the level of bioaerosols and the activity patterns of occupants in daycares. Particular matters 10($PM_{10}$), temperature, and relative humidity were monitored as well. Samplings were carried out with one-hour interval from 9 to 5 O'clock. For statistical comparisons, Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon's signed rank test, and multiple regression analysis were carried out. Results: The airborne level of molds by the low flow-based sampler were significantly higher than that of high flow-based samplers (indoor, P=0.037; outdoor, P=0.041). However, no statistical difference was observed in the airborne level of bacteria by each sampler. Also the level of bioaerosols varied by the time, particularly with different activity patterns in daycare centers. The higher level of mold and bacteria were observed in play time in indoor. Similarly, the concentrations of $PM_{10}$ were significantly associated with the level of bioaerosols (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the flow rate of sampler, rather than total air volume, could be able to affect the results of sampling. Also, the level of airborne mold and bacteria vary behavior patterns of occupants in indoor of daycare settings. Therefore, different samplers with other flow rate may be selected for mold or bacteria sampling, and activity patterns should be considered for bioaerosol sampling as well.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.785-791
• /
• 2007

The current study evaluated the technical feasibility of the application of titanium dioxide ($TiO_{2}$) photo-catalytic air cleaners for the disinfection of bioaerosols present in indoor air. The evaluation included both laboratory and field tests and the tests of hydraulic diameter (HD) and lamp type (LT). Disinfection efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) technique was estimated by survival ratio of bacteria or fungi calculated from the number of viable cells which form colonies on the nutrient agar plates. It was suggested that the reactor coating with $TiO_{2}$ did not enhance the adsorption of bioaerosols, and that the UV irradiation has certain extent of disinfection efficiency. The disinfection efficiency increased as HD decreased, most likely due to the decrease in the light intensity since the distance of the catalyst from the light source increased when increasing the HD. It was further suggested that the mass transfer effects were not as important as the light intensity effects on the PCO disinfection efficiency of bioaerosols. Germicidal lamp was superior to the black lamp for the disinfection of airborne bacteria and fungi, which is supported by the finding that the disinfection efficiencies were higher when the germicidal lamp was used compared to the black lamp in the laboratory test. These findings, combined with operational attributes such as a low pressure drop across the reactor and ambient temperature operation, can make the PCO reactor a possible tool in the effort to improve indoor bioaerosol levels.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.89-100
• /
• 2023

In our previous study, a wire-plate type electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was developed to collect bioaerosols of 100 nm size. In the study, various flow rates (40 ~ 100 L/min) and applied voltages (3 ~ 10 kV) were tested for experiment. In this study, numerical analysis was performed for the ESP of the previous study with the same flow rates and applied voltages, but with varying the size of bioaerosols to 0.04 ~ 2.5 ㎛. Overall, the numerical analysis results well predicted the experimental data. Bioaerosols of 0.1 ~ 0.5 ㎛ showed the minimum collection efficiency for all conditions because of low charge number. The effect of the ionic wind generated by the corona discharge was calculated. However, the ionic wind did not affect much the collection efficiency. The aerosol collection in the ESP of this study was due to the electrostatic force generated by particle charge in the electric field. This numerical study on the ESP can be used for the design and optimization of higher flow rate (> 100 L/min) ESP.