Bioaerosol represents the totality of aerosolized particles of biological origin. The aerodynamic diameters of particles can range from several nanometers to a few hundred micrometers.

Bioaerosols include bacterial and fungal spores/cells, algae, pollen, viruses, amoebae, lichens, archaea, aggregates of these particles, and fragments of larger organisms including, skin scales, animal and plant debris. Metabolites, excretion products, endotoxins, sensitizing substances and volatile organic compounds are included, as well. Biological particles have been linked to different health concerns, from simple mucous membrane irritation to inflammatory lung diseases, hypersensitivity pneumonitis etc., depending on both their characteristics and different penetrative capacity in our respiratory system.

Nowadays there is still a lack of information on biological risks in workplaces due to the objective difficulty of unequivocally measuring bioaerosol.

This study aimed to develop and improve the bioaerosol monitoring technique that uses proper biomarkers and their conversion factors as a tool. The results were compared with those obtained with classical biological approach and show that the chemical method covers some gaps in the information. Bioaerosol presence was monitored in working places affected by biological risk, with particular attention to wastewater treatment plants, composting plants, livestock farms. Differences up to two orders of magnitude are observed, by comparing the results obtained by biomarkers and by cultivation-dependent methods.