Passive Aerosol Sampler. Part I: Principle of Operation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Leith D ; Wagner J
• Description:
  A method has been developed to estimate average concentrations and size distributions with a miniature passive aerosol sampler. To use the passive sampler, one exposes it to an environment for a period of hours to weeks. The passive sampler is intended to monitor ambient, indoor, or occupational aerosols and has potential utility as a personal sampler. The sampler is inexpensive and easy to operate and is capable of taking long-term samples to investigate chronic exposures. After sampling, the passive sampler is covered and brought to the lab. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and automated image analysis are used to count and size collected particles with d p>0.1 microm. Alternatively, more advanced microscopy techniques can be used for ambient-pressure analysis or elemental characterization. Image analysis is used in conjunction with particle density and shape factors to obtain the mass flux as a function of aerodynamic diameter. The flux and a deposition velocity model are then used to estimate the average mass concentration and size distribution over the sampling period. The deposition velocity model consists of a theoretical component and an empirical component. The theoretical component incorporates gravitational, inertial, and diffusive mechanisms, but can be approximated by the simple terminal settling velocity in many cases. This article, Part I, describes how measurements are made with the passive sampler. The sampler design, theoretical component of the deposition velocity model, and microscopy methods are presented. Part II describes wind tunnel experiments performed to measure sampler precision and determine the empirical component of the deposition velocity. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Aerosol Sampling Air Samplers Air Sampling Equipment Analytical Instruments Electron Microscopy Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Indoor Environments Particle Aerodynamics Particle Size Samplers

  More +
• ISSN:
  0278-6826
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  186-192
• Volume:
  34
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021914
• Citation:
  Aerosol Sci Technol 2001 Feb; 34(2):186-192
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeff Wagner, University of North Carolina, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, CB#7400, Rosenau Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
• Email:
  jrwagner@lbl.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Performing Organization:
  University of North Carolina
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19980930
• Source Full Name:
  Aerosol Science and Technology
• End Date:
  20000929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:515e70001ab8ea65f1f174845809de13e782603591ef2027a66b4e16412dbcf7811c5ce3087c0cc869ef1ee813a2b04d3a5a3a61ce7fc8688b38f88244d3e78c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198994/cdc_198994_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 383.80 KB ]