Expanding far beyond its predecessor, this text offers a comprehensive guide to the assessment and control of bioaerosols in the full range of contemporary workplaces. Although the indoor environment remains a focus of concern, much of the information in this publication has application beyond office environments. The prominence of saprophytic microorganisms remains; however, more attention has been given to other important biological agents (e.g., arthropod and animal allergens, infectious agents, and microbial volatile organic compounds). In addition, fuller descriptions are provided for microbial toxins and cell wall components that may cause health effects

An introduction to the microbiology of bioaerosols and their impact on the world in which we live The microbiology of aerosols is an emerging field of research that lies at the interface of a variety of scientific and health-related disciplines. This eye-opening book synthesizes the current knowledge about microorganisms—bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses—that are aloft in the atmosphere. The book is written collaboratively by an interdisciplinary and international panel of experts and carefully edited to provide a high-level overview of the emerging field of aerobiology. Four sections within Microbiology of Aerosols present the classical and online methods used for sampling and characterizing airborne microorganisms, their emission sources and short- to long-distance dispersal, their influence on atmospheric processes and clouds, and their consequences for human health and agro-ecosystems. Practical considerations are also discussed, including sampling techniques, an overview of the quantification and characterization of bioaerosols, transport of bioaerosols, and a summary of ongoing research opportunities in the field. Comprehensive in scope, the book: Explores this new field that is applicable to many disparate disciplines Covers the emission of bioaerosols to their deposit, covering both quantitative and qualitative aspects Provides insights into social and environmental effects of the presence of bioaerosols in the atmosphere Details the impact of bioaerosols on human health, animal and plant health, and on physical and chemical atmospheric processes Written by authors internationally recognized for their work on biological aerosols and originating from a variety of scientific fields collaborated on, Microbiology of Aerosols is an excellent resource for researchers and graduate or PhD students interested in atmospheric sciences or microbiology.

This comprehensive handbook provides up-to-date knowledge and practical advice from established authorities in aerosol science. It covers the principles and practices of bioaerosol sampling, descriptions and comparisons of bioaerosol samplers, calibration methods, and assay techniques, with an emphasis on practicalities, such as which sampler to use and where it should be placed. The text also offers critiques concerning handling the samples to provide representative and meaningful assays for their viability, infectivity, and allergenicity. A wide range of microbes-viz., viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollens, and their fragments-are considered from such perspectives. Bioaerosols Handbook is divided into four parts, providing a wide-ranging reference work, as well as a practical guide on how best to sample and assay bioaerosols using current technology.

A bioaerosol is a colloidal suspension of liquid droplets or solid particles in air whose components contain or have attached to them one or more microorganisms. Bioaerosols are an exciting and vital object of study because the attached microbes play a critical role in human, animal and environmental health. In an era of genetically engineered microorganisms and the application of biopesticides, bioaerosols are increasingly an environmental problem, both indoors and outdoors, and can affect entire ecosystems. Atmospheric Microbial Aerosols examines naturally occuring bioaerosols, as well as bioaerosols generated by human activity. Included in this volume is a complete array of topics concerned with outdoor microbial bioaerosols ranging from the physical and chemical to the meteorological and microbial. It will be of great interest as a starting point for researchers interested in outdoor microbial bioaerosols as well as for those interested in atmospheric dispersion models, new equipment, and government regulations.

In response to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a standing committee of experts to help inform the federal government on critical science and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases and other 21st century health threats. This set of Rapid Expert Consultations are the first of their kind and represent the best evidence available to the Committee at the time each publication was released. The science on these issues is continually evolving, and the scientific consensus the Committee reaches on these topics will likely evolve with it. The standing committee includes members with expertise in emerging infectious diseases, public health, public health preparedness and response, biological sciences, clinical care and crisis standards of care, risk communication, and regulatory issues.

This comprehensive handbook provides up-to-date knowledge and practical advice from established authorities in aerosol science. It covers the principles and practices of bioaerosol sampling, descriptions and comparisons of bioaerosol samplers, calibration methods, and assay techniques, with an emphasis on practicalities, such as which sampler to use and where it should be placed. The text also offers critiques concerning handling the samples to provide representative and meaningful assays for their viability, infectivity, and allergenicity. A wide range of microbes-viz., viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollens, and their fragments-are considered from such perspectives. Bioaerosols Handbook is divided into four parts, providing a wide-ranging reference work, as well as a practical guide on how best to sample and assay bioaerosols using current technology.

Indoor Air Pollution: Radon, Bioaerosols, and VOCs covers the most current aspects of indoor pollution research, including vitally important topics such as radon, bioaerosols, and volatile organic compounds. The book presents information on microbial contamination abatement, chemical characterization of air samples, sick building syndrome, biological pollutants, liability of indoor air pollution, and measurement and control of radon. Industrial hygienists, toxicologists, safety officers, and engineers in industry and academia should consider this book a "must read" selection.

People's desire to understand the environments in which they live is a natural one. People spend most of their time in spaces and structures designed, built, and managed by humans, and it is estimated that people in developed countries now spend 90 percent of their lives indoors. As people move from homes to workplaces, traveling in cars and on transit systems, microorganisms are continually with and around them. The human-associated microbes that are shed, along with the human behaviors that affect their transport and removal, make significant contributions to the diversity of the indoor microbiome. The characteristics of "healthy" indoor environments cannot yet be defined, nor do microbial, clinical, and building researchers yet understand how to modify features of indoor environmentsâ€"such as building ventilation systems and the chemistry of building materialsâ€"in ways that would have predictable impacts on microbial communities to promote health and prevent disease. The factors that affect the environments within buildings, the ways in which building characteristics influence the composition and function of indoor microbial communities, and the ways in which these microbial communities relate to human health and well-being are extraordinarily complex and can be explored only as a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem by engaging the fields of microbial biology and ecology, chemistry, building science, and human physiology. This report reviews what is known about the intersection of these disciplines, and how new tools may facilitate advances in understanding the ecosystem of built environments, indoor microbiomes, and effects on human health and well-being. It offers a research agenda to generate the information needed so that stakeholders with an interest in understanding the impacts of built environments will be able to make more informed decisions.

Written by an illustrious group of experts in microbiology and aerobiology, Bioaerosols brings together current information on the nature and health effects of bioaerosol-related problems. The book presents up-to-date coverage of methods for sampling and analysis, as well as various approaches to the investigation of health problems caused by exposure to biological contaminants in indoor air. Its comprehensive treatment of the various aspects of this subject makes it a valuable reference for industrial hygienists, public health officials and researchers, and physicians interested in environmentally caused disease.

Bioaerosols Emission from Anthropogenic Sources: Influencing Factors, Microbial Diversity, Epidemiological Threats, and Control Approaches covers various sources of biohazards and their associated risk factors. These air contaminants are developing concerns to people and the environment and must be addressed to avert future dangers. As little is known about their precise sources, controlling variables, microbial diversity, the involvement of co-pollutants, and dispersion and control methods, this book will assist stakeholders, including the public, government officials, and policymakers in developing successful strategies for ensuring society's safety. - Identifies potential emission stages at different anthropogenic sources of bioaerosols - Discusses characteristics, fate and development of effective control strategies for minimizing exposure to site specific bioaerosols - Presents cleaner production and sustainable development tactics of bioaerosols