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FILTER SAMPLING OF AIRBORNE MICROBIAL AGENTS - EVALUATION OF FILTER MATERIALS FOR PHYSICAL COLLECTION EFFICIENCY, EXTRACTION, AND COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL BIOAEROSOL SAMPLING

BURTON, NANCY CLARK
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1181659203

Abstract Details

2007, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Medicine : Industrial Hygiene (Environmental Health).
Recent events have increased interest in environmental monitoring for microbial contaminants including bioterrorism agents, fungi, viruses, and their components. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of filter and other traditional sampling techniques for the collection of personal and area samples to evaluate microbial exposures. The first aim of this research was to determine filter materials and extraction methods appropriate for environmental sampling of Bacillus anthracis. Four filter types (mixed cellulose ester (MCE), two polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and gelatin) in conjunction with Button Inhalable Aerosol samplers were tested using B. atrophaeus, a B. anthracis surrogate. Vortexing with ultrasonic agitation and vortexing with shaker agitation extraction methods were evaluated. Mean differences for culturability were not statistically significant for filter materials and extraction methods. The MCE and 1 μm PTFE filters with vortexing and shaker extraction demonstrated the best performance. The second aim determined the physical collection efficiency of commercially available filters for particles in the 10 to 900 nanometer (nm) size range. Biological and non-biological test aerosols were used: B. atrophaeus, MS2-virions, polystyrene latex (PSL) particles, and sodium chloride. The PTFE and gelatin filters showed high collection efficiencies (> 93%) for all test particles. The polycarbonate filters showed lower collection efficiency for small particles especially below 100 nm. A 4-hour loading exposure to PSL particles representing indoor dust levels did not cause significant changes in the collection efficiency. The third aim was to determine the effectiveness of gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) treatment on indoor microbial contamination using different monitoring techniques. The best filter (0.3 μm pore size PTFE) from the previous experiments was used in combination with polymerase chain reaction assay. ClO2 was effective in reducing culturable and total fungi and bacteria in indoor air. The reduction of total count on surfaces was less efficient. The treatment process appears to increase endotoxin and (1-3)-β-D-glucan concentrations. Thorough cleaning of air and surfaces is recommended to achieve acceptable re-occupancy conditions. Overall, this study shows that gelatin and PTFE filters with small vacuum pumps can be used for efficient personal and area environmental sampling for microbial agents including fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
Dr. Tiina Reponen (Advisor)
153 p.
gelatin filter; polytetrafluoroethylene filter; microbial sampling; filter extraction; Bacillus atrophaeus; MS2-virions; physical collection efficiency; chlorine dioxide treatment

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Citations

  • BURTON, N. C. (2007). FILTER SAMPLING OF AIRBORNE MICROBIAL AGENTS - EVALUATION OF FILTER MATERIALS FOR PHYSICAL COLLECTION EFFICIENCY, EXTRACTION, AND COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL BIOAEROSOL SAMPLING [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1181659203

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • BURTON, NANCY. FILTER SAMPLING OF AIRBORNE MICROBIAL AGENTS - EVALUATION OF FILTER MATERIALS FOR PHYSICAL COLLECTION EFFICIENCY, EXTRACTION, AND COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL BIOAEROSOL SAMPLING. 2007. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1181659203.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • BURTON, NANCY. "FILTER SAMPLING OF AIRBORNE MICROBIAL AGENTS - EVALUATION OF FILTER MATERIALS FOR PHYSICAL COLLECTION EFFICIENCY, EXTRACTION, AND COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL BIOAEROSOL SAMPLING." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1181659203

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.