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Direct-Read Fluorescence Based Measurements of Bioaerosols Produced during Activities of Daily Living
VISHAL D. NATHU, Jurate Virkutyte, M.B. Rao, Marina Nieto-Caballero, Mark T. Hernandez, Tiina Reponen, University of Cincinnati
Abstract Number: 191
Working Group: Bioaerosols
Abstract
Biological indoor air pollutants or bioaerosols such as bacteria, fungi, and pollen, may adversely affect human health. More specifically, workers employed in home healthcare (HHCWs) occupations are at risk of bioaerosol exposures in their workplaces. Furthermore, there are significant data gaps concerning how everyday activities influence the distribution and accumulation of different types of bioaerosols indoors. Due to HHCWs job responsibilities and activities in patients’ homes, elevated bioaerosol exposures are expected while on the job. We collected residential indoor bioaerosol data using a novel direct-reading fluorescence instrument (InstaScope, DetectionTek, Boulder, CO). The experiments consisted of measuring residential bioaerosols at background and performing seven daily living activities, including cooking, dusting, showering, vacuuming, walking, bedsheet changing, and sleeping. Each activity was repeated 4-7 times. Averages of the concentrations from the repeated experiments were taken. Compared to the background of 71,489 particles/m3, pollen concentrations were 973 and 443 percent higher during showering and cooking, respectively. Fungal particles during showering and cooking were 2,301 and 489 percent higher than the background (2,371 particles/m3), respectively. The highest increases in bacterial particles were observed during sleeping and cooking activities. Respective bacterial concentrations were 170 and 195 percent higher compared to background concentrations measured at 135 particles/m3. These results show that showering, cooking, and even sleeping may produce larger amounts of bioaerosols compared to other studied activities. Pollen concentrations were affected by the activities more than fungal and bacterial concentrations. Further analyses are required to understand bioaerosol distribution in residential environments.