Assessing Aerosol Generation from Procedures and Accidents in Biological Laboratories

ASHLEY R. RAVNHOLDT, Danielle N. Rivera, Daniel N. Ackerman, Gabriel A. Lucero, Elizabeth A. Klug, Shanna A. Ratnesar-Shumate, Joshua L. Santarpia, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)

     Abstract Number: 220
     Working Group: Aerosol Science of Infectious Diseases: Lessons and Open Questions on Models, Transmission and Mitigation

Abstract
Laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) pose a significant risk to laboratory workers and can have serious consequences. Aerosols generated during laboratory procedures are considered a significant source of LAIs, but the actual production of aerosols in many standard laboratory procedures and common accidents have not been quantified. In this study, the generation of aerosols during common laboratory procedures and accidents was assessed by conducting selected laboratory actions in a small-volume chamber with an upwelling flow. The chamber is equipped with sampling ports to simultaneously measure aerosol concentration and size distribution using a Next Generation Impactor (TSI Inc.), an Optical Particle Sizer (TSI Inc.), and an 80 mm gelatin filter. The data collected from these measurements can provide insight into the size and quantity of aerosol particles that may be generated from each procedure tested, inform the potential risk during individual procedures, and offer insights for protecting laboratory workers. The results of initial studies using a fluorescent tracer have revealed that laboratory actions can generate aerosols that could result in LAIs. Proposed future work will focus on experiments with bacterial and viral suspensions to demonstrate that infectious agents can be carried by aerosols generated in these activities.