Accession Number:

AD0294093

Title:

The Effect of Low Temperatures on the Survival of Airborne Bacteria

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARCTIC AEROMEDICAL LAB FORT WAINWRIGHT AK

Personal Author(s):

• KETHLEY, T. W.
• FINCHER, E .L.
• COWN, W. B.

Report Date:

1957-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

67.0

Abstract:

Results are reported for studies on various airborne bacteria under varying conditions of relative humidity at low temperatures. Employing airborne bacterial particles dispersed from beef broth cultures, studies are reported for Serratia marcescens, and Escherichia coli for the range of temperatures 80 to - 40 F. Preliminary studies are reported for Serratia indica, Microccocus pyogenes var. aureus and Microccocus pyogenes var. albus. It is concluded that the experimental bacterial particles studied are very similar to those arising from natural causes and that the findings are generally applicable to many naturally occurring airborne bacteria. The very low death rate observed for the experimental bacterial aerosols at low temperatures is consistent with previous reports of the presence of viable bacteria in the upper atmospheres. It is suggested that the composition of the non-living material associated with the airborne bacterial particle is the most important single factor in determining the fate of such organisms. Author

Descriptors:

• *BACTERIA
• *BACTERIAL AEROSOLS
• POLAR REGIONS
• TEMPERATURE
• AIRBORNE
• SURVIVAL(GENERAL)
• HUMIDITY
• NERVES
• CULTURE MEDIA
• SERRATIA MARCESCENS
• SERRATIA
• STANNATES

Subject Categories:

• Microbiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE