Real-time detection of Bioaerosols by Mass Spectrometry and Fluorescence methods during the BIODETECT 2014 campaign at CEA/LSCE/ACTRIS SUPERSITE (Saclay, France)

The French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) has developed a new on line mass spectrometry method to detect atmospheric fungal spores (Sarda Esteve et al., AAAR 2013) under the Bio Chemical Collectors (BCC) research project. This method has been compared with a traditional method from the National Network of Survey for Airborne contaminants (RNSA) to identify Cladosporium events and has shown good agreement with microscopy techniques. Real-time measurements of bio-aerosols using light-induced fluorescence (LIF) techniques have also been performed widely, both for bio-aerosol quantification and to support ice nucleation studies (e.g. Despres et al., 2012). Recent work has sought to better understand the variability in observed fluorescence recorded using LIF instruments (Huffman et al., 2013, O'Connor et al., 2014). Novel data analysis methods are also required to effectively interpret the datasets produced by such instruments, which can exhibit high dimensionality. Robinson et al., (2013) successfully distinguished between calibration particles measured using a WIBS 4A by applying a clustering algorithm to the data. They went on to apply this algorithm to ambient datasets and attributed particular clusters to bacteria and fungal spores (Crawford et al., 2014). To understand the major processes affecting fluorescent aerosol particles, it is necessary to intercompare these real-time methods with measurements of biological targets that provide more detailed chemical information, such as real-time mass spectrometry. An intensive measurement campaign, BIODETECT 2014, will take place at the LSCE-SIRTA ACTRIS supersite outside Paris in summer between the 7th of July and the 8th of August. This study may help identify potential new technologies for monitoring the spread of airborne pathogens and other bio-aerosols. During this period of the year, bacteria and fungal spore are expected to be emitted to the air in high concentration. These bio-aerosol events can be used as proxies for airborne pathogens spreading through an urban/suburban influenced environment