Bioaerosols - Aerosols: Measurement, Dosimetry, and Health Effects - page 290

TABLE 12.1 (continued)
Particle Sizes and Health Effects of Airborne Biological Agents

Susceptible
Population b

Biological Agent Type Size ( μ m) Location Reservoir a Health Effect

Mycoplasma pneumoniae Droplets of nasopharyngeal

secretions: 0.1-0.2 × 1-2

Bronchi H Pneumonia H, H1, H2

Neisseria meningitidis Droplets of nasopharyngeal

secretions: 0.6-1.0

Lung H Pneumonia H

Nocardia Airborne spores: 0.5-1.0 Lung E2 Nocardiosis H12

Pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae
(pneumococcus)

Droplets of nasopharyngeal
secretions: <2

Middle ear and paranasal
sinuses, Bronchi

H Pneumonia H, H1, H2

Meningitis

Group A streptococcus
( Streptococcus pyogenes )

Droplets of nasopharyngeal
secretions: <2

Oropharynx, Middle ear and
paranasal sinuses

H Streptococcal sore throat H

Pneumonia

Yersinia pestis Droplet nuclei of respiratory

secretions: 0.5-0.8 × 1-3

Lung A, H Pneumonic plague H

Pneumonia

Fungi
Aspergillus spp. Airborne conidia: 2-5 Lung E2, E3 Pneumonia H12

Blastomyces dermatitidis Airborne conidia: 2-10 Lung E2 Blastomycosis H13

Subacute pneumonia

Coccidioides immitis Airborne arthroconidia: 2-4 × 3-6 Lung E2 Coccidioidomycosis H13

Subacute pneumonia

Cryptococcus neoformans Yeast cells: 4-8 Lung E2, A2 Cryptococcosis H4

Subacute pneumonia

Histoplasma capsulatum Airborne microconidia: 2-5 Lung A2, A2 Histoplasmosis H4

Subacute pneumonia

Zygomycetes
(phycomycetes)

Spores Lung E2, E3 Zygomycosis (phycomycosis) H12

Pneumonia

Protists
Pneumocystis carinii

Droplet nuclei of respiratory
secretions

Lung H (uncertain) Pneumonia H1, H12

Trophozoite: 1-5