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Microbial Characterization in a School Setting

Schools are not only places of learning and fun, but they can harbor viruses and bacteria that make people sick. Microbes that contribute to illness make vigilant cleaning and disinfection a necessity¡ªand a school is a perfect setting to assess how well cleaning solutions work. A disinfectant manufacturer asked our health sciences team to characterize the microbial bioburden in a school setting to understand the effects of spray disinfection solutions with varying active ingredients.

Our ChemRisk team conducted a comprehensive exposure assessment to active ingredients in various disinfectant solutions among classrooms of a K-8 school. To evaluate surface and aerosols bioburdens, we conducted a comprehensive sampling campaign for biological targets on desk surfaces throughout the school in conjunction with chemical sampling. We also collected bioaerosol samples inside and outside of the school to inform the expected bioburden and potential sources of inward contamination.

As a result, our assessment used the results of the microbial investigation to help deliver real-world effectiveness of products and inform the overall assessment¡ªhelping the manufacturer understand the effects of their spray disinfection solution.