The term "aerosol" refers to the physical state of liquid or solid particles suspended in air. Aerosols containing infectious agents and hazardous materials can pose a serious risk because:

• Small aerosol particles can readily penetrate and remain deep in the respiratory tract, if inhaled.
• Aerosols may remain suspended in the air for long periods of time.

Aerosol particles can easily contaminate equipment, ventilation systems, and human skin.

The following equipment may produce aerosols:

• Centrifuge
• Blender
• Shaker
• Magnetic stirrer
• Sonicator
• Pipette
• Vortex mixer
• Syringe and needle
• Vacuum-sealed ampoule
• Grinder, mortar, and pestle
• Test tubes and culture tubes
• Heated inoculating loop
• Separatory funnel

Follow these guidelines to eliminate or reduce the hazards associated with aerosols:

• Conduct procedures that may produce aerosols in a biological safety cabinet or a chemical fume hood.
• Keep tubes stoppered when vortexing or centrifuging.
• Allow aerosols to settle for one to five minutes before opening a centrifuge, blender, or tube.
• Place a cloth soaked with disinfectant over the work surface to kill any biohazardous agents.
• Slowly reconstitute or dilute the contents of an ampoule.
• When combining liquids, discharge the secondary material down the side of the container or as close to the surface of the primary liquid as possible.
• Avoid splattering by allowing inoculating loops or needles to cool before touching biological specimens.
• Use a mechanical pipetting device.