Field evaluation of personal sampling methods for multiple bioaerosols

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 23;10(3):e0120308. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120308. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Ambient bioaerosols are ubiquitous in the daily environment and can affect health in various ways. However, few studies have been conducted to comprehensively evaluate personal bioaerosol exposure in occupational and indoor environments because of the complex composition of bioaerosols and the lack of standardized sampling/analysis methods. We conducted a study to determine the most efficient collection/analysis method for the personal exposure assessment of multiple bioaerosols. The sampling efficiencies of three filters and four samplers were compared. According to our results, polycarbonate (PC) filters had the highest relative efficiency, particularly for bacteria. Side-by-side sampling was conducted to evaluate the three filter samplers (with PC filters) and the NIOSH Personal Bioaerosol Cyclone Sampler. According to the results, the Button Aerosol Sampler and the IOM Inhalable Dust Sampler had the highest relative efficiencies for fungi and bacteria, followed by the NIOSH sampler. Personal sampling was performed in a pig farm to assess occupational bioaerosol exposure and to evaluate the sampling/analysis methods. The Button and IOM samplers yielded a similar performance for personal bioaerosol sampling at the pig farm. However, the Button sampler is more likely to be clogged at high airborne dust concentrations because of its higher flow rate (4 L/min). Therefore, the IOM sampler is a more appropriate choice for performing personal sampling in environments with high dust levels. In summary, the Button and IOM samplers with PC filters are efficient sampling/analysis methods for the personal exposure assessment of multiple bioaerosols.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / analysis*
  • Agriculture
  • Air Pollutants, Occupational / analysis
  • Animals
  • Filtration
  • Humans
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Swine

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants, Occupational

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health (ILOSH), Ministry of Labor, Taiwan (http://www.ilosh.gov.tw/wSite/mp?mp=12), Grant No. IOSH100-H313. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The opinions, results and conclusions reported in this paper are those of the authors and are independent from the funder.