AAAR 34th Annual Conference
October 12 - October 16, 2015
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Evaluation of Methods for Collecting Aerosolized Bacillus Spores
SERGEY A. GRINSHPUN, Michael Yermakov, Reshmi Indugula, Yousef Elmashae, Tiina Reponen, Angela M. Weber, University of Cincinnati
Abstract Number: 54 Working Group: Environmental Fate of Infectious Aerosols
Abstract Various sampling techniques have been used for collecting airborne Bacillus anthracis spores in the field, but no standard method or protocol has yet been established. In this study, we evaluated the performance of two inhalable aerosol sampling devices, the IOM Sampler and the Button Inhalable Sampler (SKC Inc., Eighty Four, PA, USA). Both were equipped with 25-mm collection filters; four filters featuring different characteristics were evaluated. The study aimed at generating experimental data for selecting the most suitable sampling method and protocol. The tests were conducted with aerosolized spores of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, Bt(k), which is a well-recognized simulant of B. anthracis. The spores were aerosolized using a Collison nebulizer (BGI Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) from a suspension. The aerosol concentration was measured using a real-time aerosol spectrometer (Models 1.326 and 1.108 combined, Grimm Technologies Inc., Ainring, Germany). The following characteristics were investigated: the filter collection efficiency, pressure drop, recovery of the collected spores, and the overall sampling efficiency of the samplers. The IOM and Button samplers yielded comparable results while operated with the same filter, although the concentration levels measured with the IOM sampler were slightly greater (the difference was not a statistically significant). The PC filter was identified as the best choice for assessing the personal inhalation exposure to Bacillus spores in indoor air; the PTFE 3-micro-meter filter also demonstrated a good performance; however, it is more expensive. The study results contribute to standardization of the personal exposure assessment in indoor environments contaminated with aerosolized biological agents.
This effort was supported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The findings and conclusions in this presentation are those of the presenters and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.