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179954 
Journal Article 
Methods to determine the biological composition of particulate matter collected from outdoor air 
Womiloju, TO; Miller, JD; Mayer, PM; Brook, JR 
2003 
1 
Atmospheric Environment
ISSN: 1352-2310
EISSN: 1873-2844 
37 
31 
4335-4344 
WOS:000185433400002 
Associations between increased morbidity and exposure to ambient air particulates have been the subject of intense
study. Few data exist on the presence of cells or cell materials of fungi, bacteria and pollen in fine particle samples
(o 2.5 mm). Because it is not possible to recognize such fragments by conventional means, one approach is to determine
the presence of signature biochemicals. This paper reports the development of a method for the analysis of intact
glycerophospholipids present in extracts of fungi and pollen common in outdoor air by normal-phase liquid
chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Using cluster analysis of the phospholipids found,
both mycelia and spores of fungi and pollen common in outdoor air could be separated. Little variation was detected
between single spore isolates of individual strains of such fungi isolated across North America. White Birch and
ragweed pollen contained similar phospholipid patterns but different from the fungi. From literature data, both were
different than Gram negative bacteria. Semi-hivolume fine particle samples were collected on glass fibre filters in three
locations in and near Toronto, extracted and analyzed. The concentrations of phospholipids measured suggested that
fungal cells and pollen were responsible for 12–22% of the organic carbon fraction or 4–11% of the total mass
depending upon location. The qualitative and quantitative estimates obtained compared favourably to data from
concurrent rotorod samples. This suggests that, with improved sensitivity, the analysis of a larger number of samples
would provide useful data for epidemiological studies and on the nature of organic carbon in fine particulate samples. 
organic carbon; PM2.5; PM10; phospholipids; rotorod; electrospray mass spectroscopy; fungi; pollen