Abstract
Biomass combustion is known to be one of the main contributors to air pollution. However, the influence of biomass burning on the distribution of viable bacterial and fungal aerosols is uncertain. This study aimed to examine survivability of bacteria and fungi in the post-combustion products, and to investigate the aerosolization of viable cells during combustion of different types of organic materials. Laboratory experiments included a small-scale combustion of organic materials contaminated with microorganisms in order to determine the survivability of microbes in the combustion products and the potential aerosolization of viable cells during combustion. Field experiments were completed during intentional and prescribed biomass burning events in order to investigate the aerosolization mechanisms that are not available at the laboratory scale. Laboratory experiments did not demonstrate aerosolization of microorganisms during biomass combustion. However, the relatively high survival rate of bacteria in the combustion products ought to be accounted for, as the surviving microorganisms can potentially be aerosolized by high velocity natural air flows. Field investigations demonstrated significant increase in the bioaerosol concentration above natural background during and after biomass combustion.
Highlights
Bioaerosols are known to be highly sensitive to high temperatures
It was shown that common bacterial species such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis become more than 99.9% inactive when exposed to the temperature of 160 ◦ C and 350 ◦ C, respectively, for about 0.3 s [1]
In our previous work [3] we experimentally proved a possibility of aerosolization of viable microorganisms as a result of interaction of biologically contaminated liquid with hot surfaces that may occur in the processes of industrial cooling
Summary
Bioaerosols are known to be highly sensitive to high temperatures. It was shown that common bacterial species such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis become more than 99.9% inactive when exposed to the temperature of 160 ◦ C and 350 ◦ C, respectively, for about 0.3 s [1]. A number of industrial high temperature processes can be responsible for microorganisms’ aerosolization. Biomass burning is a major source of aerosols which contributes up to 67% more carbon particle emissions compared to the combustion of fossil fuels [4]. Biomass burning is a process of interest as a renewable source for power and heat generation. Biomass-fueled electric generating facilities are characterized by a high level of particulate matter (PM), especially in boiler rooms and biomass storage rooms [5]. It was not confirmed that the combustion process itself represents a mechanism of bioaerosol generation, as the elevated levels of bioaerosols and biogenic organics are commonly related to the pre-combustion processes [6,7] that include storage or mechanical disturbance of biomass
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