Assessment of electrical charge on airborne microorganisms by a new bioaerosol sampling method.
Abstract: Bioaerosol sampling is necessary to monitor and control human exposure to harmful airborne microorganisms. An important parameter affecting the collection of airborne microorganisms is the electrical charge on the microorganisms. Using a new design of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) for bioaerosol sampling, the polarity and relative strength of the electrical charges on airborne microorganisms were determined in several laboratory and field environments by measuring the overall physical collection efficiency and the biological collection efficiency at specific precipitation voltages and polarities. First, bacteria, fungal spores, and dust dispersed from soiled carpets were sampled in a walk-in test chamber. Second, a simulant of anthrax-causing Bacillus anthracis spores was dispersed and sampled in the same chamber. Third, bacteria were sampled in a small office while four adults were engaged in lively discussions. Fourth, bacteria and fungal spores released from hay and horse manure were sampled in a horse barn during cleanup operations. Fifth, bacteria in metalworking fluid droplets were sampled in a metalworking simulator. It was found that the new ESP differentiates between positively and negatively charged microorganisms, and that in most of the tested environments the airborne microorganisms had a net negative charge. This adds a signature to the sampled microorganisms that may assist in their identification or differentiation, for example, in an anti-bioterrorism network.
Publication Date: 2004-06-19 PubMed ID: 15204870DOI: 10.1080/15459620490424357Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research pertains to an innovative method of bioaerosol sampling that provides information about the electrical charge on airborne microorganisms, which can shed new light on their identification or differentiation, particularly in settings like counter-bioterrorism measures.
Details of the Study
- The study delves into bioaerosol sampling, which is crucial for measuring human exposure to potentially harmful airborne microorganisms. A salient factor in the collection of these microorganisms is the electrical charge they carry, so it is crucial to gauge it accurately. The researchers used an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) of a new design to determine the relative strength and polarity of electrical charges on these airborne microorganisms. They carried out this determination in various lab and field environments by noting down the physical collection efficiency and the biological collection efficiency at specific precipitation polarities and voltages.
- The researchers conducted five experiments. The first involved collecting bacteria, dust, and fungal spores dispersed from soiled carpets located in a walk-in test chamber. The second experiment revolved around the dispersion and sampling of a Bacillus anthracis spores simulant, known to cause the deadly disease anthrax, again in the same chamber.
- The third experiment entailed bacteria collection in a small office wherein four adults were involved in animated discussions. In the fourth category of experimentation, bacteria and fungal spores emanating from hay and horse dung were sampled in a horse barn amid cleanup activities.
- The final experiment dealt with bacteria collection in metalworking fluid droplets within a metalworking simulator.
- The new ESP displayed differentiation capabilities between positively and negatively charged microorganisms. The implication was that most airborne microorganisms in the experimented environments bore a net negative charge. This discovery is significant as it adds a unique signature to sample microorganisms which can potentially ease their identification or differentiation. This can prove useful in various fields, including an anti-bioterrorism network, where quick and accurate identification of harmful microorganisms can be lifesaving.
The Experiments
Findings and Implications
Cite This Article
APA
Lee SA, Willeke K, Mainelis G, Adhikari A, Wang H, Reponen T, Grinshpun SA.
(2004).
Assessment of electrical charge on airborne microorganisms by a new bioaerosol sampling method.
J Occup Environ Hyg, 1(3), 127-138.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620490424357 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Center for Health-Related Aerosol Studies, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Lesu@email.uc.edu
MeSH Terms
- Aerosols / analysis
- Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis
- Animals
- Bacteria
- Bioterrorism
- Environmental Exposure
- Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation
- Environmental Monitoring / methods
- Fungi
- Horses
- Manure
- Spores
- Static Electricity
Grant Funding
- R01 OH03463 / NIOSH CDC HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Islam AKMS, Bhuiyan R, Khan MAI, Akter S, Islam MR, Khokon MAR, Latif MA. Synergistic Antifungal Activity of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Fungicide Against Rhizoctonia solani Causing Rice Sheath Blight Disease. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2025 Jan;197(1):587-612.
- Rastmanesh A, Boruah JS, Lee MS, Park S. On-Site Bioaerosol Sampling and Airborne Microorganism Detection Technologies. Biosensors (Basel) 2024 Feb 24;14(3).
- Ouyang H, Wang L, Sapkota D, Yang M, Morán J, Li L, Olson BA, Schwartz M, Hogan CJ Jr, Torremorell M. Control technologies to prevent aerosol-based disease transmission in animal agriculture production settings: a review of established and emerging approaches. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1291312.
- Mainelis G. Bioaerosol Sampling: Classical Approaches, Advances, and Perspectives. Aerosol Sci Technol 2020;54(5):496-519.
- Liu CY, Tseng CH, Wang KF. The Assessment of Indoor Formaldehyde and Bioaerosol Removal by Using Negative Discharge Electrostatic Air Cleaners. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Jun 12;19(12).
- Kutter JS, de Meulder D, Bestebroer TM, Mulders A, Fouchier RAM, Herfst S. Comparison of three air samplers for the collection of four nebulized respiratory viruses - Collection of respiratory viruses from air. Indoor Air 2021 Nov;31(6):1874-1885.
- Kakutani K, Matsuda Y, Nonomura T, Takikawa Y, Takami T, Toyoda H. A Simple Electrostatic Precipitator for Trapping Virus Particles Spread via Droplet Transmission. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 6;18(9).
- Ghosh B, Lal H, Srivastava A. Review of bioaerosols in indoor environment with special reference to sampling, analysis and control mechanisms. Environ Int 2015 Dec;85:254-72.
- Adams RI, Tian Y, Taylor JW, Bruns TD, Hyvärinen A, Täubel M. Passive dust collectors for assessing airborne microbial material. Microbiome 2015 Oct 5;3:46.
- Xue J, Luo Z, Li P, Ding Y, Cui Y, Wu Q. A residue-free green synergistic antifungal nanotechnology for pesticide thiram by ZnO nanoparticles. Sci Rep 2014 Jul 14;4:5408.
- Kettleson EM, Schriewer JM, Buller RM, Biswas P. Soft-X-ray-enhanced electrostatic precipitation for protection against inhalable allergens, ultrafine particles, and microbial infections. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013 Feb;79(4):1333-41.
- Greenberg DL, Busch JD, Keim P, Wagner DM. Identifying experimental surrogates for Bacillus anthracis spores: a review. Investig Genet 2010 Sep 1;1(1):4.
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