Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bioaerosols
ENVR 133
Mark D. Sobsey
Bioaerosols
Microorganisms or particles, gases, vapors, or
fragments of biological origin (i.e., alive or released
from a living organism) that are in the air.
Bioaerosols are everywhere in the environment.
Some bioaerosols, when breathed in, can cause
diseases including pneumonia, asthma, rhinitis (e.g.
cold, hay fever), and respiratory infection.
Some bioaerosols can also infect the eyes and vai
ingestion (swallowed)
Some Examples of Bioaerosols
Living Source Examples
Microorganisms (microbes):
Bacteria Legionella, Actinomycetes, endotoxins
Fungi Histoplasma, Alternaria, Pencillium, Aspergillus,
Stachybotrys aflatoxins, aldehydes, alcohols
Protozoa Naegleria, Acanthamoeba
Viruses Rhinoviruses (colds), Influenza (flu
Algae Chlorococus
Green plants Ambrosia (ragweed) pollen
Arthropods Dermatophagoides (dust mites) feces
Mammals horse or cat dander
Diseases Caused by Bioaerosols:
Hypersensitivity or Allergic Diseases
Result from exposure to antigens (of indoor bioaerosols) that
stimulate an allergic response by the body's immune system.
Susceptiblity varies among people.
Diseases usually are diagnosed by a physician.
Once an individual has developed a hypersensitivity disease,
a very small amount of the antigen may cause a severe
reaction.
Hypersensitivity diseases account for most of the health
problems due to indoor bioaerosols.
Hypersensitivity or Allergic Diseases
Building-related asthma: result in complaints of chest
tightness, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath .
symptoms may occur within an hour of exposure or 4-12 hours
after exposure.
Can be caused by airborne fungi such as Altemaria,
glycoproteins from fungi, proteases (digestive enzymes that
cause thebreakdown of proteins) from bacteria, the algae
Clorococus, ragweed pollen, dust mites, and dander from cats.
Allergic rhinitis: stuffiness of the nose, clear discharge from
the nose, itchy nose, and sneezing. Itching and puffy eyes.
All the indoor bioaerosols listed under building-related asthma
except the bacteria proteases alsocause rhinitis.
Hypersensitivity or Allergic Diseases
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis):
Can be an acute, recurrent pneumonia with fever, cough, chest
tightness, and fluids entering the lungs.
Or, can be a cough that progresses to shortness of breath,
fatigue, weight loss and thickening and scarring of the lungs.
microorganisms associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis:
fungi such as Penicillium and Sporobolomyces, bacteria such
as Thermoactinomyces, and protozoa such as Acanthamoeba.
Humidifier fever: fever, chills, muscle aches, and malaise
(general feeling of being unwell), but no lung symptoms.
The symptoms usually start within 4-8 hours of exposure and
end within 24 hours without long-term effects.
Airborne Microbes and Aerosols
Airborne transmission is possible for essentially all classes
of microbes: viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoans.
Any respiratory pathogen able to survive aerosolization and
air transport is considered a potential cause of airborne
disease.
Aerosols: Airborne particles, either solid or liquid, about 0.5
to 20 microns in diameter, that remain airborne for extended
periods of time.
Droplets: >20 (usually 100+) microns in diameter; settle
rapidly or evaporate to form droplet nuclei in the aerosol
size range.
Regions of the Respiratory System
The cellular composition as well as geometry of the
respiratory system influence particle deposition.
Nasopharynx Region: the head region, including the
nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx
Tracheobronchial Region: includes the trachea,
bronchi, and bronchioles
Pulmonary (Alveolar) Region: comprised of the
alveoli; the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
through the process of respiration occurs in the
alveolar region
Lung Anatomy and Physiology and Particle Deposition
Trachea:
largest airway; lined by a ciliated epithelium covered by
mucus and serous secretions produced by the cells and
glands of the epithelium.
The secretions may trap and/or dissolve some inhaled
particles
Beating of the cilia tends to drive secretions upward toward
the mouth where they are ingested or expectorated.
Particles deposited in this portion of the lung will also be
expelled in this manner.
Lung Anatomy and Physiology and Particle Deposition
Tracheobronchial Region:
As the airways divide and become smaller in diameter,
the composition of the epithelium also changes
Becomes thinner with less ciliated cells and increasing
numbers of Clara or non-ciliated bronchiolar cells.
Clearance via the mucociliary escalator is less likely
than in the trachea.
The Clara cells do produce secretions and have
metabolic capabilities.
Can detoxify locally absorbed chemicals
Lung Anatomy and Physiology and Particle Deposition
Pulmonary (Alveolar) Region:
Airways become even smaller in diameter (respiratory and
terminal bronchioles) and open into the alveolar region.
Lined primarily by very thin Type I epithelial cells.
Other epithelial cell type found less frequency: pulmonary
macrophage.
Specifically recruited (by migration or cell division) to the alveolar region
when there is a local particle burden.
Engulf the particles and either migrate into the lung interstitium or move up
the airways to be caught and removed by the mucociliary escalator.
Region of primary lung function: gas exchange.
Only a layer of surfactant, the Type I cell layer, and a thin
interstitium containing fibroblasts and endothelial cells separate
air from blood.
Regional Deposition in Respiratory Tract and Particle Size
Aerosols and Respiratory Deposition
Reservoirs:
Wide range, overall
Depends on the microbe
humans,
animal,
soil
dust
water
air
Amplifiers:
Places where microorganisms multiply or proliferate.
Most reservoirs are potential amplifiers.
Disseminators
Devices causing microbes to enter airborne state or be
aerosolized; often the reservoir or amplifier.
Any device able to produce droplets and aerosols:
Humans and other animals: coughs and sneezes, esp.
Mechanical ventilation systems
Nebulizers and vaporizers
Toilets (by flushing)
Showers, whirlpools baths, Jacuzzi, etc.
Wet or moist, colonized surfaces (wet walls and other structures in
buildings)
Environments that are dry and from which small particles can
become airborne by scouring or other mechanisms:
Vacuuming or walking on carpets and rugs
Excavation of contaminated soil
Demolition of buildings
Airborne Microbes and their Reservoirs
Viruses:
Mostly humans but some animals
Some rodent viruses are significant: ex: Lassa Fever Virus and
Hantavirus.
Bacteria:
Humans (TB & staphylococci),
other animals (brucella and anthrax),
water (Legionella)
soil (clostridia).
Fungi:
soil and birds (Cryptococcus and Histoplasma)
dead plant material
wet surfaces (wood and other building materials)
indoor air (mycotic air pollution)
stagnant water for the opportunistic fungi (e.g., Aspergillus sp.).
Legionella: Legionellosis and Pontiac Fever
Reservoirs and amplifiers:
Hot water systems
circulating water ventilation systems (cooling towers)
Plumbing (e.g., shower heads).
Hot tubs, whirlpools, etc.
Produce fresheners