Bacterial viability and air quality: Experimental approach and results at the atmospheric simulation chamber ChAMBRe

The effects of bioaerosol, the biological component of atmospheric aerosol, on the environment and health are numerous but still little known, studies on the subject are continually growing. Experiments conducted in Atmospheric Simulation Chambers (ASCs), can provide valuable information on the viability, dispersion and interactions of microorganisms in the aerosols. For this purpose, a multi-step experimental procedure was developed; systematic studies have been carried out in our ASC, to expose bioaerosol to controlled atmospheric conditions. This study reports the results of the experiments conducted on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, which highlight how the two bacterial strains react, in terms of viability, to the aerosolization process and to remaining in an aerosolized state in controlled atmospheric conditions.