Environmental Persistence of Biological Aerosols in Outdoor and Simulated Environments

Technical Report · Fri Nov 30 04:00:00 EST 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1876742· OSTI ID:1876742

Kinahan, Sean Michael ^[1]; Tezak, Matthew ^[1]; Collins, Don ^[1]; Rivera, Danielle ^[1]; Sanchez, Andres ^[1]; Reyna, Cathryn ^[1]; Storch, Steven ^[1]; Lucero, Gabriel ^[1]; Pan, Yongle ^[1]; Santarpia, Josh ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The fate of biological aerosols in the atmosphere depends on the unique and dynamic environmental conditions it is exposed to during transport. There exist many processes that can impact the effectiveness of an aerosol release, and its fate in the environment. Aerosol properties may be modified if biological particles that are released into the atmosphere interact with free radicals, volatile organic compounds(VOC), semi-volatile organic compounds, and inorganic gasphase compounds, such as NOx and SOx. Meteorological conditions such as ultraviolet(UV)- light, relative humidity(RH), and temperature have also been shown to affect biological aerosols, with interactions dependent on both the organism and aerosol's chemical make-up. Oxidation or secondary-organic aerosol (SOA) formations on the particle can also lead to changes in surface proteins and extra-cellular nucleic acids that may agent detection technologies, at a different rate than the infectivity of the agents. Once modified, agents may then be transported via many atmospheric processes such as deposition or incorporation into cloud condensation nuclei(CCN). Although these processes are known, it is unclear what the resulting form and potency ofthe bioaerosol may be after alteration by these processes.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 1876742
• Report Number(s): SAND2019-3215R; 673672
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES