Bioaerosol Production from Indoor Air Biofilters
J Mallany1*, A Darlington1,2, and M Dixon1
ABSTRACT
Several indoor air biofilters containing higher plants, mosses and microbes have been incorporated into functional offices, where they are a supplemental means of controlling indoor air quality through the removal of volatile organic compounds. In theory a rich microbial community indoors may in fact lower air quality through the production of microbial agents such as spores or aerial bacteria. Questions have arisen regarding the impact of an indoor air biofilter on ambient spore concentrations including the pathogen Legionella pneumophilia. This study presents empirical evidence which indicates that indoor air biofilters do not increase the spore load of "treated" air under stable conditions and creates only minor increases when subjected to disturbance events.
INDEX TERMS
Indoor air quality, Biofiltration, Legionella, bioaerosols, Spores
1Controlled Environmental Systems Research Group, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, On, Canada, N1G 2W1
2Air Quality Solutions Ltd., 55 Callander Dr., Guelph, On, Canada, N1E 4H6
