Studies of Bacterial Aerosols

Part 8 Bacteria dispersal from humans into air comparing the rates at rest and during physical exercise

Abstract

A bicycle ergometer (50W and 100W for 2 hours) was used to study the effects of physical exercise on the rate of bacteria dispersal from individuals in a model laboratory with a ventilation rate of 1.2 times/hr. The mean halflife of airborne bacteria was found to be 3.3/hr, whether the person was at rest or during physical exercise, and the loss due to sedimentation was calculated at 2.1/hr. However, the bacteria dispersal per person tended to increase during the 50W period which became significant at 100W, over the rate at rest. The results suggest that the level of exercise effects the bacteria dispersal rate from humans and the amount of bacterial contamination of indoor air.