The size distribution of primary biological aerosol particles with radii > 0.2 μm in an urban/rural influenced region

Abstract

Primary biological aerosol particles including pollen, spores, plant debris, epithelial cells, bacteria, algae, protozoa and viruses, are an ubiquitous component of the atmospheric aerosol, they are most probably present in all size ranges. Besides their effects on air hygiene and health, biological particles play an important role in cloud physics, for example some bacteria are able to accumulate water and act as ice nuclei. To sample aerosols a two-stage-slit-impactor and a wing-impactor are used to collect particles for a following single particle analysis. The coarse particles are sampled on dyed glycerine jelly. The biological particles become stained and can be distinguished in contrast to the non-dyed particles using a light microscope. The small particles are examined in a scanning-electron-microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer after sampling on graphitic foils. Three criteria were used to characterize the particles: the morphology, the elemental composition and the behaviour during the microanalysis. With this method the size distributions of the primary biological aerosol particles were determined in an urban/rural influenced region. Considering all measurements we calculated a mean number concentration of 1.9 cm −3 of biological aerosol particles ≈30% of the total aerosol particles. The mean volume concentration was about 15% of the total volume. A model size distribution for primary biological aerosol particles was obtained by performing a non-linear fitting procedure.