An overview on bioaerosols viewed by scanning electron microscopy.pdfVIP

Science of the Total Environment 346 (2005) 244– 255 /locate/scitotenv An overview on bioaerosols viewed by scanning electron microscopy a,* b b c K. Wittmaack , H. Wehnes , U. Heinzmann , R. Agerer aGSF-National Research Centre for Environment and Health, Institute of Radiation Protection, 85758 Neuherberg, Germany b GSF-National Research Centre for Environment and Health, Institute of Pathology, 85758 Neuherberg, Germany cLudwig-Maximilians University Munich, Department Biology, Biodiversity Research: Mycology, Menzinger Stasse 67, 80638 Munich, Germany Received 12 August 2004; accepted 15 November 2004 Available online 15 January 2005 Abstract Bioaerosols suspended in ambient air were collected with single-stage impactors at a semiurban site in southern Germany during late summer and early autumn. Sampling was mostly carried out at a nozzle velocity of 35 m/s, corresponding to a minimum aerodynamic diameter (cut-off diameter) of aerosol particles of 0.8 Am. The collected particles, sampled for short periods (~15 min) to avoid pile-up, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed bioaerosols include brochosomes, fungal spores, hyphae, insect scales, hairs of plants and, less commonly, bacteria and epicuticular wax. Brochosomes, which serve as a highly water repellent body coating of leafhoppers, are hollow spheroids with diameters around 400 nm, rese