AAAR 34th Annual Conference
October 12 - October 16, 2015
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Measurements of Changes in the Fluorescence and Viability of Biological Particles Exposed to Outdoor Conditions Outside of Houston, TX
JOSHUA SANTARPIA, Sean Kinahan, Crystal Glen, Andres Sanchez, Matthew Tezak, Steven Storch, Gabriel Lucero, Kevin Crown, Danielle Rivera, Bryce Ricken, Keiko Salazar, Yong-Le Pan, Steven Hill, Mark Coleman, Chatt Williamson, Don Collins, Manuel Salgado, Hawkyard Thomas, Sandia National Laboratories
Abstract Number: 602 Working Group: Bioaerosols
Abstract Biological aerosols are studied for many reasons, including their effects on cloud properties as both cloud condensation and ice nuclei. Predominantly, however, biological aerosols are studied for their effects on human, plant and animal health. This can range from allergy to disease and is often concerned with the detection and characterization of bioaerosols used as biological weapons. A variety of methods have been used to study atmospheric bioaerosols. The most common of these are PCR, Immunoassay and the natural ultraviolet fluorescence, the process by which ultraviolet (UV) light is absorbed and re-emitted at a lower energy. In this study, biological particles were examined for changes in the dual-wavelength UV laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) spectra, viability/infectivity, PCR and immunoassay sensitivity, by seeding particles into a chamber exposed to ambient summer conditions outside of Houston, TX for periods of several hours. The chambers used in this study employ a rotating drum constructed with an exterior FEP Teflon film to allow sunlight to penetrate and an inner ePTFE membrane to allow ambient air and trace gasses to permeate the drum, while still containing the biological particles being studied without any exchange of particles above 50 nm between the chamber and outside air. Biological aerosol particles were sampled with a TSI UV-APS (ex. 355 nm), a Single Particle Fluorescence Spectrometer (ex. 351 and 263 nm) and AGI-30 impinger. Solar intensity, relative humidity and ozone concentration were measured locally, and other meteorological data and air quality measurements were retrieved from a local air quality monitoring site. Early results from this study and comparison to a past study in Adelphi, MD will be discussed.