Although existing guidelines and standards for measurement of biotic components in Germany are dominated by cultivation dependent-analyses more and more genome-based methods are used to address the limitations of cultivation-dependent investigations and to gain deeper insights into the composition of bioaerosol particles. However, the amount of DNA in the outdoor air can be a limitation for genome-based analysis. So, in this study it has been tested whether after collecting the PM10 fraction DNA is present on filters in sufficient amounts to follow the course of the DNA concentration for one year in rural ambient air. In the PM10 fraction of the investigated air annual median DNA concentrations ranged from 49 to 60 pg/m³. The highest median DNA concentra tion was measured in summer and DNA concentration was positively correlated with temperature, ozone level, radiation as well as negatively with relative humidity. These observations might be a result of increased natural emission as well as intensified anthropogenic activities in the agricultural sector. Overall, the applied methods for determination of DNA concentration proved to be appropriate to detect general exposures to bioaerosol particles.

This article is published in the Journal "Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft", Volume 81, Issue 9-10, pp. 362-367 (www.gefahrstoffe.de).