Bioaerosol (short for biological aerosol ) - suspended particles, large molecules or volatile compounds consisting of living organisms or their derivatives [1] . They can be both harmless and allergenic , toxic or pathogenic , and in exceptional cases, biological weapons or a factor of economic distress [2] . Particle size varies from fractions to hundreds of micrometers , making the effect of gravity on them comparable or even less than the influence of friction forces of the environment - the main reason for their long stay in the air.
Composition
Bioaerosols can be either single organic particles or agglomerates of such particles. These include, for example, viruses , bacteria , pollen , fungal spores , yeast , soil , mold , endotoxins, and antigens [1] .
Classifications
There are natural and artificial bioaerosols. In addition, a vital characteristic of bioaerosol particles is their viability as a factor of biological activity [3] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Bioaerosols - why measure? Archived copy of March 4, 2016 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ Welfare Effects of Bioaerosols
- ↑ Bioaerosol basics