Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 15, 2025
09:30
Author Spotlight: Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies
Published on: March 17, 2023
3.8K
Airborne pathogenic microorganisms and air cleaning technology development: A review
Lu Song1, Jianfeng Zhou2, Can Wang1
1Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|October 23, 2021
Summary
Airborne pathogens spread diseases via bioaerosols. Air cleaning technologies can prevent this spread, with high-efficiency, low-cost, dynamic systems being the future research direction.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Microbiology
Background:
- Airborne pathogens transmitted via bioaerosols are a significant public health concern.
- Understanding pathogen occurrence, transmission, and impacts is crucial for disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review airborne pathogenic microorganisms and their transmission routes.
- To summarize advances in air cleaning technologies for disease prevention.
- To discuss future research directions in air cleaning.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of airborne pathogen transmission.
- Analysis of current air cleaning technologies, including mechanisms, pros, cons, and health effects.
- Comparison of application scope and energy consumption of different technologies.
Main Results:
- Air cleaning technologies show promise in reducing airborne disease spread.
- Recent advances focus on inactivation mechanisms, with varying advantages and disadvantages.
- Market air cleaners' characteristics and energy consumption are discussed.
Conclusions:
- High-efficiency, low-cost, dynamic air cleaning technology is the leading research direction.
- Further development of existing air cleaning technologies is proposed.
- Continued research is essential for effective airborne disease control.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
1.6K
Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
1.6K
01:26Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration
546
Radiation and filtration are essential tools for microbial control, targeting microorganisms through distinct mechanisms. Radiation eliminates microbes by damaging their DNA, either killing them or inhibiting their growth. Based on wavelength, radiation is classified into two types: nonionizing and ionizing radiation.Non-ionizing radiation, such as UV radiation (200–400 nm), is absorbed by DNA, causing defects that effectively disinfect surfaces, air, and water, including safety cabinets.
546
01:29Key Techniques in Microbiology
830
Aseptic techniques prevent contamination, ensure experimental accuracy, and protect researchers and microbial cultures. These techniques are essential in clinical, industrial, and research settings where sterility is required.Maintaining Sterility in Laboratory PracticesScientists maintain sterility by sterilizing tools with heat or chemicals, disinfecting work surfaces, and handling cultures in controlled environments. Working near an open flame or within a laminar flow hood reduces the risk...
830
01:27Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
387
Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
387
01:30Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
8.0K
Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization are the methods that help to break the infection chain and prevent disease.
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
8.0K
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
445
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
445