1

BioCheA Project Newsletter

Welcome to the first newsletter from the BioCheA

project, a unique multi-disciplinary research program that

aims to develop a complementary field monitoring and

laboratory programme directed toward the analysis of

natural (bio-aerosol) components coincident with meas-

urements of anthropogenic materials such as PM10 and

NOx for the Cork harbour region. The project, which

finally started in 2008, has several individual components:

Atmospheric Chemistry — Measuring the con-

centrations of PM10 and NOx in the Cork Harbour

region. What are their individual trends?.

Classical Aerobiology — Measuring the amount

of pollen and fungal spores in our air and identify-

ing the predominant species.

Real-time Aerobiology — Investigating Primary

Biological Aerosol Particles (PBAP) in real-time,

using novel instrumentation (WIBS 4) to provide

key information on levels and identity of impor-

tant allergens such as fungal spores and pollen.

Meteorology — Measuring the daily temperature,

rainfall and humidity, wind speed, direction and

temperature inversions to help understand and

predict the dispersal of important allergens such as

fungal spores and pollen.

Ambient 24-hr average PM10 concentration as recorded by the TEOM during summer ‘09

PM10 sampling equipment location and setup:

At the Port of Cork a tapered element oscillating microbalance

(TEOM) for measuring PM10 (i.e. particles with mean aerody-

namic diameter of less than 10 µm) with an Automatic Car-

tridge Collection Unit (ACCU) for measuring PM2.5 has been

operating since the early stages of the project.

Atmospheric Chemistry

Newsletter June ‘09

After months of preparation the

live phase of the project is up and

running where real-time measure-

ments have begun at our estab-

lished sampling site at Tivoli docks

in the Port of Cork.

Sporewatch sampler, for pollen sampling, has been located with

aerosol samplers at the Killarney National Park and Port of

Cork (Tivoli docks). The aerospora samples are collected on ad-

hesive tape according to time, and then mounted, stained and

analysed using optical microscopy.

Aerobiology — classical

The sporewatch sampler in Killarney National Park (left) and in the Port of Cork (right)

2

Initial deployment of WIBS 4

was in Killarney National

Park (March ‘09) and proved

successful as a pilot operation

for us.

Teething problems were iden-

tified with its mobile configu-

ration. However battery per-

formance was better than

expected and enabled a 24-

hour period of sampling.

Preliminary assessment of the

results suggested at least 4

different types of Primary

Biological Aerosol Particu-

lates being identified. All of

which were sized to be less

than 3 µm approximately.

Aerobiology — WIBS 4 Killarney National Park

WIBS 4 located in our mobile

truck laboratory at the Port of

Cork, May ‘09

WIBS 4 located in Killarney

National Park in mobile

configuration

Aerobiology — WIBS 4 Port of Cork Summer ‘09

Further testing of the WIBS 4 in-

strument has involved sampling at

our already established site located

in Tivoli docks at the Port of

Cork. Sampling occurred during a

warm summer episode in May and

June ‘09 where temperatures

reached mid-twenties. (Typically

unheard of for this area).

WIBS 4 was again co-located with a

suite of other instruments, some of

which, included sporewatch,

weather station, Teom, NOx, and

Ozone measurements.

Initial examination of the results

suggested a strong PBAP presence

often coincident to tidal activity.

The hard work now begins with

the pollen identification process

using traditional microscopic

means and by using authentic sam-

ples in the lab with WIBS4.

Page 2 B ioCheA Pro ject News le tter June ‘09

Equipment and team members of BioChea along with helpers.

All of which made the sampling campaign in Killarney March

‘09 possible.

Some images of the Tivoli sampling site used dur-

ing our campaign at Port of Cork during summer

‘09.

(Top) The surrounding vicinity south of the sampling

inlet.

(Middle) Our mobile laboratory truck used to house the

WIBS 4 inside and sporewatch on the roof.

(Bottom left) PhD student Dave O’ Connor on his debut

initialization of the sporewatch.

For more information about

the BioCheA project please

visit:

Web address:

http://crac.ucc.ie/

Newsletter Contact: Dr. David Healy Email: D.healy@ucc.ie