Effects of some air pollutants and meteorological conditions on airborne algae and protozoa

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1973 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1973.10469858· OSTI ID:6309320

Smith, P E

The effects of meteorological conditions and specific air pollutants on the viability of airborne algae and protozoa were investigated. Such investigations will be of interest to medical researchers because these organisms are the source of many allergies. The three air pollutants that were continuously measured and recorded were sulfur, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. During the experiment, 25 different species of algae and 19 species of protozoa were collected from the atmosphere and cultured at the Westinghouse environmental Station Laboratory in Raleigh, North Carolina. The algae and protozoa were collected over a one-year period (Jan-Dec 1971) by using a sequential sampler that moved air through a membrane filter at the rate of 15 ft/sup 3//hr. Every two hours a new filter was sequentially moved in to replace the old one. The results indicated a relationship between wind speed, wind direction, temperature, dewpoint, particulate matter, barometric pressure, and rainfall to the percent frequency of positive culture tubes and number of cell/ft/sup 3/ of air. Further studies are necessary to determine the interrelationships between the physical and chemical character of various air masses and their effect on the survival of algae and protozoa.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Raleigh, NC
• OSTI ID: 6309320
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 23:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALGAE
GROWTH
HYDROCARBONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
NORTH CAROLINA
AIR POLLUTION
PARTICULATES
PROTOZOA
SULFUR
ALLERGY
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
DEW POINT
METEOROLOGY
POPULATION DENSITY
RAIN
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SAMPLING
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
WIND
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IV
INVERTEBRATES
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PLANTS
POLLUTION
USA
560302* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)