Generaly，the fungal concentration has to be higher in PM2.5 than in PM1 because PM2.5 is inclusive of PM1. However, it is totally different with the result obtained in the current qPCR experiment. The PM1' fungal abundance (1.3 _ 105 copies m-3) is higher than that in PM2.5 (9.4 _ 104 copies m-3). I am curious about the potential explantion.The value is against basic law of physics.
I have 3 points:
1. Please check the cut off characters of the sampler
2. There is no significant differences between counts attached both PMs diameters
3. PM2.5 is larger than PM 1 in size and both mainly emits from combustion sources
which are contain many of toxic substances, I suppose that PM2.5 is matched with size with most of fungal aerodynamic diameters so the percent of surface contact between fungal spores and PM2.5 is larger than those with PM1, and the toxic impact may be larger for fungi attached PM2.5.
1. Check cut off
2. Are you shure that 1.3*105 and 9.4*104 are significantly different results in your experimental setup? You say they are totally different....They seem pretty the same to me...
3. Make an overall uncertainty estimate of your technique (sampling+treatment+measurement+...), then re-evaluate your conclusions. I bet they won't be against basic laws of physics.
Interesting ...
I had a read of your ACPD manuscript ( http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/acp-2017-204/ ) and I have some comments that hopefully will help answer your question.
First, and as everyone here has said, do make sure that your PM heads are the right ones (i.e., that they were operating within their flow parameters).
Now, I was as intrigued as "Referee 1" about the fact that you report higher concentrations of fungal spores on PM1 than on PM2.5 filters while the PM1 fraction is contained within the PM2.5 fraction.
I have two comments about this issue. The first one on the nature of PM1 and PM2.5 and the second one on the uncertainties of the measurements.
First, PM1 and PM2.5. While it is true that, conceptually, PM1
Thank you all for your help.
I appreciate the time and effort you all took to help me out.
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