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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1972 March; 23(3): 481-484
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effect of NO₂ on Airborne Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus

¹ Life Sciences Research Division, Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois 60616

ABSTRACT

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on aerosol survival and biological decay rate of Venezulean equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus and spores of Bacillus subtilis var. niger. The NO₂ concentrations used in the experiments were 0.5, 5, and 10 ppm at 24 C and 85% RH. The survival of airborne VEE virus disseminated as particles 1 to 5 µm in diameter was significantly influenced by the presence of 5 ppm of NO₂. At this concentration, the biological decay rate increased threefold and the aerosol recovery and aerosol survival of the VEE virus were significantly lower than at 0.5 ppm or in the absence of NO₂. Airborne spores of B. subtilis were not significantly affected by as much as 10 ppm of NO₂.