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SUMMARY: The consequence of relative humidity (RH) changes before collection of bacterial aerosols are described; it is shown how Escherichia coli (B, commune), but not E. coli Jepp, gave good survival over the range 100--20% RH provided that the following conditions applied: (1) a pure nitrogen atmosphere; (ii) a protective agent in the spray fluid; (iii) sucrose in the collecting fluid; (iv) an RH change to 100% or to a nominal 30% (depending upon the experimental conditions) before collection of the aerosol. Differences in survival of E. coli commune sprayed from suspension in solutions of raffinose into an atmosphere of nitrogen which were previously attributed to the effect of raffinose concentration in the spray fluid were found to be caused by the use of variant organisms.