Evaluation of Portable Samplers for Viable Bioaerosols

描述：此补助金申请响应PA-01-032“职业安全和健康研究的职业发展赠款”。它还响应诺拉的优先研究领域：传染病，室内环境和暴露评估方法。暴露于空气传播的生物制剂，特别是致病或致敏微生物，可能在职业人群和普通人群中引起广泛的呼吸系统疾病和其他健康疾病。此外，某些生物制剂，如引起炭疽的炭疽杆菌孢子，可能被用作生物战剂，这也是一种威胁。暴露于空气中的微生物通常是通过使用空气采样器监测可行的微生物气溶胶进行评估。目前，越来越多地使用便携式采样器来检测活性气溶胶。在这项研究中，我们将评估七个便携式生物气溶胶采样器，最近被引入市场或修改，以满足今天的要求的物理和生物性能。将在实验室环境中测定的试验取样器对不同生物和非生物试验颗粒的物理收集效率与可吸入颗粒的惯例进行比较。便携式采样器的生物性能将与Andersen撞击器和适用于活性生物气溶胶的吸入式采样器进行比较。将使用三种细菌和三种真菌研究便携式采样器的生物性能。试验微生物包括炭疽芽孢杆菌的模拟物，这将允许确定采样器在收集空气传播的B时的效率。炭疽孢子在不同季节的室内和室外野外环境中，也将评估便携式采样器收集空气中细菌和真菌的效率。根据获得的结果，研究人员将为使用经过测试的便携式生物气溶胶采样器制定实用建议，特别是因为它涉及暴露评估和颗粒渗透到呼吸系统。这项研究提出的建议可供卫生专业人员和其他利益攸关方进行生物气溶胶暴露监测。本研究的未来方向将是开发一种便携式生物气溶胶采样器，其采样特性遵循可吸入颗粒物、胸腔颗粒物和可呼吸颗粒物的惯例。

DESCRIPTION: This grant application responds to PA-01-032 "Career Development Grants in Occupational Safety and Health Research". It also responds to NORA's Priority Research Areas: Infectious Diseases, Indoor Environment, and Exposure Assessment Methods. Exposure to airborne biological agents, especially to pathogenic or allergenic microorganisms, may cause a wide range of respiratory and other health disorders in occupational and general populations. Also, there is a threat that certain biological agents, such as anthrax causing Bacillus anthracis spores, may be used as biowarfare agents. Exposure to airborne microorganisms is often assessed by using air samplers designed for monitoring viable microbial aerosols. Currently, there is an increased use of portable samplers for viable aerosols. In this research we will evaluate the physical and biological performances of seven portable bioaerosol samplers that have recently been introduced into the market or modified to meet today's requirements. The physical collection efficiency of the test samplers determined in a laboratory setting with different biological and non-biological test particles will be compared against conventions for inhalable particles. The biological performance of the portable samplers will be compared against an Andersen impactor and an inhalation-based sampler adapted for viable bioaerosols. The biological performance of the portable samplers will be investigated using three species of bacteria and three species of fungi. The test organisms include a simulant of Bacillus anthracis, which will allow determining the efficiency of the samplers when collecting airborne B. anthracis spores. The efficiency of portable samplers when collecting airborne bacteria and fungi will also be evaluated in indoor and outdoor field environments during different seasons. Based on the obtained results, the researchers will develop practical recommendations for using the tested portable bioaerosol samplers, especially as it relates to exposure assessment and particle penetration into the respiratory system. The recommendations produced by this research can then be used by the health professionals and other stakeholders performing bioaerosol exposure monitoring. Future directions of this research will be development of a portable bioaerosol sampler, sampling characteristics of which follow conventions for inhalable, thoracic and respirable particles.