Co-generated solid particles as protectants enhancing the survival of airborne bacteria and its influence on exposure assessment
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Exposure to aerosolized bacteria poses a significant threat to human health as they can cause various respiratory infections. In dental clinics, the bacteria-laden aerosols generated from dental procedures may disperse to the dentist’s breathing zone via air and cause cross-infection. A unique feature for aerosols generated during dental procedures is that they contain solid particles. In this study, the impact of co-generated solid particles on the activity of aerosolized bacteria and its influence on exposure assessment were investigated. This study first compared the recovery of aerosolized bacteria with and without co-generated solid particles. The results showed that with co-generated solid particles, the number of recovered bacteria increased by 142 %. Then, the effects of three influencing factors were analyzed, including solid particle size, particle concentration in suspension, and relative humidity of air. Finally, the influence of co-generated solid particles on the exposure assessment in a dental clinic was numerically evaluated. The results showed that, if the impact of co-generated solid particles was not considered, the dentist’s exposure would be under-estimated by 58.6 %. This study revealed the phenomenon of co-generated solid particles acting as protectants to enhance the bacterial survival in aerosols, providing valuable insights for accurate exposure and risk assessment.
Source: Building and Environment
Authors: Wenjie Huang, Kangqi Guo, Chun Chen
Institution: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,280
OpenAlex ID: W4412499294