Evaluating the efficacy of a screen humidity cell in filtering pathogens and other particulates out of air in potato stores

Cold storage (below 4°C) can increase the storage life of the crop by reducing the metabolism of the tuber and slowing or preventing sprouting. At such low temperature, the cool air has a drying effect, causing water loss from the potato. To counteract the drying effect systems that increase the humidity of storage atmospheres can be useful. Historically three types of humidification systems had been available: high-pressure nozzles, centrifugal spinning disks and evaporative media. However, there had been a decline in use of humidifiers that produce mists, and increased interest in evaporative media humidifiers. They pass air through a water laden membrane,  producing air saturated with water vapour. The process potentially provides a filtering effect and the purpose of this work was to examine to what extent an evaporative media humidifier filtered out fungal spores and bacteria from air in potato stores.