scholarly journals Review: The Use of Real-Time Fluorescence Instrumentation to Monitor Ambient Primary Biological Aerosol Particles (PBAP)

Atmosphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehael Fennelly ◽  
Gavin Sewell ◽  
Michael Prentice ◽  
David O’Connor ◽  
John Sodeau
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

scholarly journals Ambient measurements of biological aerosol particles near Killarney, Ireland: a comparison between real-time fluorescence and microscopy techniques

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 8055-8069 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Healy ◽  
J. A. Huffman ◽  
D. J. O'Connor ◽  
C. Pöhlker ◽  
U. Pöschl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Cascade Impactor ◽  
Poor Correlation ◽  
Sampling Location ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
The Real ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

Abstract. Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) can contribute significantly to the coarse particle burden in many environments. PBAPs can thus influence climate and precipitation systems as cloud nuclei and can spread disease to humans, animals, and plants. Measurement data and techniques for PBAPs in natural environments at high time- and size resolution are, however, sparse, and so large uncertainties remain in the role that biological particles play in the Earth system. In this study two commercial real-time fluorescence particle sensors and a Sporewatch single-stage particle impactor were operated continuously from 2 August to 2 September 2010 at a rural sampling location in Killarney National Park in southwestern Ireland. A cascade impactor was operated periodically to collect size-resolved particles during exemplary periods. Here we report the first ambient comparison of a waveband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS-4) with a ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UV-APS) and also compare these real-time fluorescence techniques with results of fluorescence and optical microscopy of impacted samples. Both real-time instruments showed qualitatively similar behavior, with increased fluorescent bioparticle concentrations at night, when relative humidity was highest and temperature was lowest. The fluorescent particle number from the FL3 channel of the WIBS-4 and from the UV-APS were strongly correlated and dominated by a 3 μm mode in the particle size distribution. The WIBS FL2 channel exhibited particle modes at approx. 1 and 3 μm, and each was correlated with the concentration of fungal spores commonly observed in air samples collected at the site (ascospores, basidiospores, Ganoderma spp.). The WIBS FL1 channel exhibited variable multimodal distributions turning into a broad featureless single mode after averaging, and exhibited poor correlation with fungal spore concentrations, which may be due to the detection of bacterial and non-biological fluorescent particles. Cladosporium spp., which are among the most abundant fungal spores in many terrestrial environments, were not correlated with any of the real-time fluorescence channels, suggesting that the real-time fluorescence instruments are relatively insensitive to PBAP classes with dark, highly absorptive cell walls. Fluorescence microscopy images of cascade impactor plates showed large numbers of coarse-mode particles consistent with the morphology and weak fluorescence expected of sea salt. Some of these particles were attached to biological cells, suggesting that a marine source influenced the PBAPs observed at the site and that the ocean may be an important contributor to PBAP loadings in coastal environments.

scholarly journals Size distributions and temporal variations of biological aerosol particles in the Amazon rainforest characterized by microscopy and real-time UV-APS fluorescence techniques during AMAZE-08

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 11997-12019 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Huffman ◽  
B. Sinha ◽  
R. M. Garland ◽  
A. Snee-Pollmann ◽  
S. S. Gunthe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Inorganic Material ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Laser Induce Fluorescence ◽  
Biological Origin ◽  
Biological Particles ◽  
Total Particle ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

Abstract. As a part of the AMAZE-08 campaign during the wet season in the rainforest of central Amazonia, an ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UV-APS) was operated for continuous measurements of fluorescent biological aerosol particles (FBAP). In the coarse particle size range (> 1 μm) the campaign median and quartiles of FBAP number and mass concentration were 7.3 × 104 m−3 (4.0–13.2 × 104 m−3) and 0.72 μg m−3 (0.42–1.19 μg m−3), respectively, accounting for 24% (11–41%) of total particle number and 47% (25–65%) of total particle mass. During the five-week campaign in February–March 2008 the concentration of coarse-mode Saharan dust particles was highly variable. In contrast, FBAP concentrations remained fairly constant over the course of weeks and had a consistent daily pattern, peaking several hours before sunrise, suggesting observed FBAP was dominated by nocturnal spore emission. This conclusion was supported by the consistent FBAP number size distribution peaking at 2.3 μm, also attributed to fungal spores and mixed biological particles by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy and biochemical staining. A second primary biological aerosol particle (PBAP) mode between 0.5 and 1.0 μm was also observed by SEM, but exhibited little fluorescence and no true fungal staining. This mode may have consisted of single bacterial cells, brochosomes, various fragments of biological material, and small Chromalveolata (Chromista) spores. Particles liquid-coated with mixed organic-inorganic material constituted a large fraction of observations, and these coatings contained salts likely from primary biological origin. We provide key support for the suggestion that real-time laser-induce fluorescence (LIF) techniques using 355 nm excitation provide size-resolved concentrations of FBAP as a lower limit for the atmospheric abundance of biological particles in a pristine environment. We also show some limitations of using the instrument for ambient monitoring of weakly fluorescent particles < 2 μm. Our measurements confirm that primary biological particles, fungal spores in particular, are an important fraction of supermicron aerosol in the Amazon and that may contribute significantly to hydrological cycling, especially when coated by mixed inorganic material.

scholarly journals Ambient measurements of biological aerosol particles near Killarney, Ireland: a comparison between real-time fluorescence and microscopy techniques

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 3875-3915 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Healy ◽  
J. A. Huffman ◽  
D. J. O'Connor ◽  
C. Pöhlker ◽  
U. Pöschl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Fungal Spore ◽  
Cascade Impactor ◽  
Poor Correlation ◽  
Sampling Location ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
The Real ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

Abstract. Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP) can contribute significantly to the coarse particle burden in many environments, may thus influence climate and precipitation systems as cloud nuclei, and can spread disease to humans, animals, and plants. Measurements of PBAP in natural environments taken at high time- and size- resolution are, however, sparse and so large uncertainties remain in the role that biological particles play in the Earth system. In this study two commercial real-time fluorescence particle sensors and a Sporewatch single-stage particle impactor were operated continuously from 2 August to 2 September 2010 at a rural sampling location in Killarney National Park in south western Ireland. A cascade impactor was operated periodically to collect size-resolved particles during exemplary periods. Here we report the first ambient comparison of the waveband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS-4) with the ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UV-APS) and also compare these real-time fluorescence techniques with results of fluorescence and optical microscopy of impacted samples. Both real-time instruments showed qualitatively similar behaviour, with increased fluorescent bioparticle concentrations at night when relative humidity was highest and temperature was lowest. The fluorescent particle number from the FL3 channel of the WIBS-4 and from the UV-APS were strongly correlated and dominated by a 3 μm mode in the particle size distribution. The WIBS FL2 channel exhibited particle modes at approx. 1 and 3 μm, and each were correlated with the concentration of fungal spores commonly observed in air samples collected at the site (ascospores, basidiospores, Ganoderma spp.). The WIBS FL1 channel exhibited variable multi-modal distributions turning into a broad featureless single mode after averaging and exhibited poor correlation with fungal spore concentrations, which may be due to the detection of bacterial and non-biological fluorescent particles. Cladosporium spp., which are among the most abundant fungal spores in many terrestrial environments, were not correlated with any of the real-time fluorescence channels, suggesting that the real-time fluorescence instruments are insensitive to PBAP classes with dark, highly absorptive cell walls. Fluorescence microscopy images of cascade impactor plates showed large numbers of coarse mode particles consistent with the morphology and weak fluorescence expected of sea salt. Some of these particles were attached to biological cells, suggesting that a marine source influenced the PBAP observed at the site and that the ocean may be an important contributor to PBAP loadings in coastal environments.

scholarly journals Fluorescent biological aerosol particles: Concentrations, emissions, and exposures in a northern California residence

Indoor Air ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tian ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
P. K. Misztal ◽  
J. Xiong ◽  
C. M. Arata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Northern California ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

scholarly journals Simulating the influence of primary biological aerosol particles on clouds by heterogeneous ice nucleation

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 15437-15450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Hummel ◽  
Corinna Hoose ◽  
Bernhard Pummer ◽  
Caroline Schaupp ◽  
Janine Fröhlich-Nowoisky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Ice Nucleation ◽  
Ice Crystals ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Cloud Ice ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles ◽  
Ice Phase ◽  
Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation

Abstract. Primary ice formation, which is an important process for mixed-phase clouds with an impact on their lifetime, radiative balance, and hence the climate, strongly depends on the availability of ice-nucleating particles (INPs). Supercooled droplets within these clouds remain liquid until an INP immersed in or colliding with the droplet reaches its activation temperature. Only a few aerosol particles are acting as INPs and the freezing efficiency varies among them. Thus, the fraction of supercooled water in the cloud depends on the specific properties and concentrations of the INPs. Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) have been identified as very efficient INPs at high subzero temperatures, but their very low atmospheric concentrations make it difficult to quantify their impact on clouds. Here we use the regional atmospheric model COSMO–ART to simulate the heterogeneous ice nucleation by PBAPs during a 1-week case study on a domain covering Europe. We focus on three highly ice-nucleation-active PBAP species, Pseudomonas syringae bacteria cells and spores from the fungi Cladosporium sp. and Mortierella alpina. PBAP emissions are parameterized in order to represent the entirety of bacteria and fungal spores in the atmosphere. Thus, only parts of the simulated PBAPs are assumed to act as INPs. The ice nucleation parameterizations are specific for the three selected species and are based on a deterministic approach. The PBAP concentrations simulated in this study are within the range of previously reported results from other modeling studies and atmospheric measurements. Two regimes of PBAP INP concentrations are identified: a temperature-limited and a PBAP-limited regime, which occur at temperatures above and below a maximal concentration at around −10 ∘C, respectively. In an ensemble of control and disturbed simulations, the change in the average ice crystal concentration by biological INPs is not statistically significant, suggesting that PBAPs have no significant influence on the average state of the cloud ice phase. However, if the cloud top temperature is below −15 ∘C, PBAP can influence the cloud ice phase and produce ice crystals in the absence of other INPs. Nevertheless, the number of produced ice crystals is very low and it has no influence on the modeled number of cloud droplets and hence the cloud structure.

scholarly journals Fungi Diversity in PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> at the summit of Mt. Tai: Abundance, Size Distribution, and Seasonal Variation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caihong Xu ◽  
Min Wei ◽  
Jianmin Chen ◽  
Chao Zhu ◽  
Jiarong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North China Plain ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
The North ◽  
Fungal Abundance ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Ambient Fungi ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

Abstract. Fungi are ubiquitous throughout the near-surface atmosphere, where they represent an important component of primary biological aerosol particles. This study combined the internal transcribed spacer region sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to investigate the ambient fungi in fine (PM2.5) and submicron (PM1) particles at the summit of Mt. Tai located in the North China Plain, China. The fungal abundance was 9.4 × 104 and 1.3 × 105 copies m−3 in PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. Most of the fungal sequences was from Ascomycota and Basidiomycota which are known to discharge actively spores into the atmosphere. The fungal community showed a significant seasonal shift across different size fraction based on the metastats analysis and kruskal-wallis rank sum test. The abundance of Glomerella and Zasmidium increased and decreased as the particle size got bigger in autumn. Nevertheless, Penicillum, Bullera, and Phaeosphaeria increased in smaller particles in winter. This work may serve as an important reference for the fungal contribution to primary biological aerosol particles.

scholarly journals Regional-scale simulations of fungal spore aerosols using an emission parameterization adapted to local measurements of fluorescent biological aerosol particles

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 6127-6146 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hummel ◽  
C. Hoose ◽  
M. Gallagher ◽  
D. A. Healy ◽  
J. A. Huffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Fungal Spore ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Reactive Trace Gases ◽  
Mean Square Errors ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

Abstract. Fungal spores as a prominent type of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP) have been incorporated into the COSMO-ART (Consortium for Small-scale Modelling-Aerosols and Reactive Trace gases) regional atmospheric model. Two literature-based emission rates for fungal spores derived from fungal spore colony counts and chemical tracer measurements were used as a parameterization baseline for this study. A third, new emission parameterization for fluorescent biological aerosol particles (FBAP) was adapted to field measurements from four locations across Europe. FBAP concentrations can be regarded as a lower estimate of total PBAP concentrations. Size distributions of FBAP often show a distinct mode at approx. 3 μm, corresponding to a diameter range characteristic for many fungal spores. Previous studies for several locations have suggested that FBAP are in many cases dominated by fungal spores. Thus, we suggest that simulated FBAP and fungal spore concentrations obtained from the three different emission parameterizations can be compared to FBAP measurements. The comparison reveals that simulated fungal spore concentrations based on literature emission parameterizations are lower than measured FBAP concentrations. In agreement with the measurements, the model results show a diurnal cycle in simulated fungal spore concentrations, which may develop partially as a consequence of a varying boundary layer height between day and night. Temperature and specific humidity, together with leaf area index (LAI), were chosen to drive the new emission parameterization which is fitted to the FBAP observations. The new parameterization results in similar root mean square errors (RMSEs) and correlation coefficients compared to the FBAP observations as the previously existing fungal spore emission parameterizations, with some improvements in the bias. Using the new emission parameterization on a model domain covering western Europe, FBAP in the lowest model layer comprise a fraction of 15% of the total aerosol mass over land and reach average number concentrations of 26 L−1. The results confirm that fungal spores and biological particles may account for a major fraction of supermicron aerosol particle number and mass concentration over vegetated continental regions and should thus be explicitly considered in air quality and climate studies.

Two-photon excited fluorescence from biological aerosol particles

2011 ◽  
Vol 112 (10) ◽  
pp. 1511-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasanthi Sivaprakasam ◽  
Janet W. Lou ◽  
Marc Currie ◽  
Jay D. Eversole
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles
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