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Silica‐encapsulated DNA tracers for measuring aerosol distribution dynamics in real‐world settings
Author(s) -
Luescher Anne M.,
Koch Julian,
Stark Wendelin J.,
Grass Robert N.
Publication year - 2022
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.12945
Subject(s) - aerosol , environmental science , aerosolization , particle (ecology) , air pollutants , environmental chemistry , environmental engineering , meteorology , air pollution , chemistry , ecology , inhalation , physics , biology , organic chemistry , anatomy
Abstract Aerosolized particles play a significant role in human health and environmental risk management. The global importance of aerosol‐related hazards, such as the circulation of pathogens and high levels of air pollutants, have led to a surging demand for suitable surrogate tracers to investigate the complex dynamics of airborne particles in real‐world scenarios. In this study, we propose a novel approach using silica particles with encapsulated DNA (SPED) as a tracing agent for measuring aerosol distribution indoors. In a series of experiments with a portable setup, SPED were successfully aerosolized, recaptured, and quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Position dependency and ventilation effects within a confined space could be shown in a quantitative fashion achieving detection limits below 0.1 ng particles per m 3 of sampled air. In conclusion, SPED show promise for a flexible, cost‐effective, and low‐impact characterization of aerosol dynamics in a wide range of settings.