Airborne bacterial endospores detected by use of an impinger containing aqueous terbium chloride.

An experimental investigation is described of a terbium luminescence sensor for continuous collection and detection of bacterial endospores suspended in the atmosphere. A sensor is presented that continuously monitors and rapidly detects small concentrations of aerosolized bacterial endospores. The aerosol particles are collected by an impinger from which terbium dipicolinate photoluminescence is measured. A preliminary test of the sensor is described with Bacillus globigii endospores that were dispersed in an aerosol chamber. Another experiment is described showing that evaporation of water from the impinger limits operation time of the sensor to a few hours.