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RECORD NUMBER: 3 OF 3

Main Title Survival of Bacteria during Aerosolization.
Author Marthi, B. ; Fieland, V. P. ; Walter, M. ; Seidler, R. J. ;
CORP Author Corvallis Environmental Research Lab., OR. ;NSI Technology Services Corp., Corvallis, OR.
Publisher c1990
Year Published 1990
Report Number EPA/600/J-90/433;
Stock Number PB91-177147
Additional Subjects Bacterial spores ; Aerosols ; Survival analysis ; Humidity ; Droplets ; Ambient temperature ; Cell survival ; Bacillus subtilis ; Reprints ; Enterobacter cloacae ; Erwinia herbicola ; Klebsiella planticola ; Pseudomonas syringe
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NTIS  PB91-177147 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 7p
Abstract
One form of commercial application of microorganisms, including genetically engineered microorganisms is as an aerosol. To study the effect of aerosol-induced stress on bacterial survival, nonrecombinant spontaneous antibiotic-resistant mutants of four organisms, Enterobacter cloacae, Erwinia herbicola, Klebsiella planticola, and Pseudomonas syringae, were sprayed in separate experiments in a greenhouse. Samples were collected over a distance of 15 m from the spray site for enumeration. Spores of Bacillus subtilis were used as tracers to estimate the effects of dilution on changes in population over distance. Viable counts of P. syringae, Enterobacter cloacae, and K. planticola decreased significantly over a distance of 15 m. Erwinia herbicola showed no significant decline in counts over the same distance. The degree of survival of P. syringae during aerosolization was dependent on ambient environmental conditions (i.e., temperature, relative humidity), droplet size of the aerosol, and prior preparative conditions. Survival was greatest at high relative humidities (70 to 80%) and low temperatures (12 C). Survival was reduced when small droplet sizes were used. The process of washing the cells prior to aerosolization also caused a reduction in their survival. Results from these experiments will be useful in developing sound methodologies to optimize enumeration and for predicting the downwind dispersal of airborne microorganisms, including genetically engineered microorganisms. (Copyright (c) 1990, American Society for Microbiology.)