Portable ultrasonic humidifier exacerbates indoor bioaerosol risks by raising bacterial concentrations and fueling pathogenic genera

Abstract

). The indoor bioaerosol community, significantly associated with the humidifier water, was substantially distorted after humidification and dominated by the pathogenic Pseudomonas spp. (40.50%), Brevundimonas spp. (3.02%), Acinetobacter spp. (0.98%) and Legionella spp. (0.69%). Our results show that ultrasonic humidification contaminates indoor air by raising bacterial concentrations and fueling the pathogenic genera. To minimize the exposure risks, occupants should avoid long-term and excessive humidification (RH ≥ 70%) and clean the ultrasonic humidifier weekly.

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