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Chamber bioaerosol study: human emissions of size‐resolved fluorescent biological aerosol particles
Author(s) -
Bhangar S.,
Adams R. I.,
Pasut W.,
Huffman J. A.,
Arens E. A.,
Taylor J. W.,
Bruns T. D.,
Nazaroff W. W.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12195
Subject(s) - bioaerosol , aerosol , environmental chemistry , environmental science , fluorescence , indoor bioaerosol , chemistry , particle (ecology) , ecology , physics , biology , optics , organic chemistry
Humans are a prominent source of airborne biological particles in occupied indoor spaces, but few studies have quantified human bioaerosol emissions. The chamber investigation reported here employs a fluorescence‐based technique to evaluate bioaerosols with high temporal and particle size resolution. In a 75‐m 3 chamber, occupant emission rates of coarse (2.5–10 μ m) fluorescent biological aerosol particles ( FBAP s) under seated, simulated office‐work conditions averaged 0.9 ± 0.3 million particles per person‐h. Walking was associated with a 5–6× increase in the emission rate. During both walking and sitting, 60–70% or more of emissions originated from the floor. The increase in emissions during walking (vs. while sitting) was mainly attributable to release of particles from the floor; the associated increased vigor of upper body movements also contributed. Clothing, or its frictional interaction with human skin, was demonstrated to be a source of coarse particles, and especially of the highly fluorescent fraction. Emission rates of FBAP s previously reported for lecture classes were well bounded by the experimental results obtained in this chamber study. In both settings, the size distribution of occupant FBAP emissions had a dominant mode in the 3–5 μ m diameter range.