AIHA University Webinar: Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control

Earn 2 Contact Hours

Member $199 | Nonmember $260 | Student $25

Bioaerosols include airborne compounds such as fungi, bacteria, spores, pollen, mites, and viruses, but also can include cell membrane components, metabolites, and byproducts of cells that may or may not be viable. International interest in bioaerosols has increased rapidly since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but the assessment and control of bioaerosols is a much broader discipline than just mold and viruses.

This presentation is a general overview of the topic of bioaerosols that begins with a review of potential health effects, a discussion on hazard and risk assessment, the establishment of a hypothesis regarding the potential presence or absence of bioaerosols, purpose and development of a sampling plan, an overview and limitations of interpretation of environmental sampling data, and a discussion of controls.

Learning Objectives

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the steps of a bioaerosol assessment, including gathering information, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and drawing conclusions.
• Differentiating between situations where sampling for bioaerosols may be helpful and when not.
• Differentiate between dilution ventilation and displacement ventilation principles as they relate to bioaerosol exposures and control.
• Categorize the hazard level of biological agents, the exposure potential, and apply risk-based controls.

Presenters

Cheryl L. (Cheri) Marcham, PhD, CIH, CSP, CHMM, FAIHA
Dr. Marcham is an Associate Professor and Program Chair for the Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management degree program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She was previously the Environmental Health and Safety Officer for the University of Oklahoma for over 26 years. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Arizona State University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Department of Occupational and Environmental Health. Dr. Marcham is currently the Vice President on the AIHA Board of Directors and has previously served on the Boards of BCSP and BGC (formerly ABIH). She is a Past Chair for the AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality Committee and the Fellows SIG. She has also served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the ACGIH Bioaerosols Committee and is the co-editor and author for the ACGIH Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, 2nd edition.

Donald M. Weekes, CIH, CSP, FAIHA
Mr. Donald Weekes has over fifty (50) years of comprehensive consultation expertise and project experience in the implementation and management of inspections for hazardous materials in numerous buildings throughout Canada and the United States including universities, colleges, governmental offices, and commercial and residential buildings. During Mr. Weekes’ career, he has served in numerous senior management positions in both the consulting and insurance industries. He was the awardee of the 2025 AIHA Donald E. Cummings Memorial Award for Outstanding OEHS Practice. As a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Mr. Weekes has served as an environmental health and safety professional for various international corporations. His extensive capabilities in health and safety audits have enabled him to work in facilities involved with manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. Mr. Weekes is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Board of Global EHS Credentialing. He was previously a Board member for the ACGIH; President of IAQ-GA; President of the IAQA.

John P. (Jack) Springston, CIH, CSP, MS, FAIHA
Jack Springston has over 36 years’ experience in industrial hygiene and occupational health. He has been a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) since 1993, and is one of less than 50 active CIHs who also hold a sub-specialty certificate in Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). He has also been a Certified Safety Professional since 1999. Jack currently is a technical consultant and subject matter expert for Atlas Technical Consultants in New York City and Long Island. Jack has a BS degree in Environmental Biology and a MS degree in Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. He is a Fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and past-Chair of AIHA’s Indoor Environmental Quality, Biosafety & Environmental Microbiology, and Continuing Education committees. Jack most recently served as the Chair of American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists’ (ACGIH’s) Bioaerosols Committee and is one of the primary editors, as well as an author/co-author of several individual chapters, of ACGIH’s new publication Bioaerosols Assessment and Control, 2nd edition.

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