Detection of Fine Aerosols Using a Novel Aerosol Sampler

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议研究的目标是开发一种用于室内和室外超细至10微米尺寸范围内颗粒物的个人暴露监测器。所提出的设备将收集佩戴者呼吸区附近的大量环境空气，并提供浓缩的、大小分类的样本，用于实时分析或随后在实验室中进行分析。该器械将结合联合收割机：（i）新型气溶胶浓缩器，以将颗粒浓度增加多达三个数量级，（ii）空气动力学尺寸分级器，以分选尺寸为1至10微米的颗粒，以及（iii）静电沉淀器，以捕获小于1微米的颗粒并对其进行尺寸分级。所提出的监测器将提供将粒度分类器耦合到可以并行进行的许多分析测定（化学或生物）的能力。该监测器与自动数据记录和/或传输设备以及全球定位系统或其他位置监测装置相结合，将能够提供对各种颗粒物质暴露情况的时间和空间分辨测量。在第一阶段的项目中，使用先进的三维，非稳态CFD方法，我们将设计一个原型的空气动力学颗粒尺寸分类器，进行概念验证实验，显示空气动力学颗粒分类的可行性，并证明纳米颗粒捕获使用静电除尘器。在第二阶段，我们将联合收割机的气溶胶采样器/大小分类器与检测平台（可能是一个微流控装置），可用于进行各种分析的每一个大小类并行。公共卫生相关性：人们日益认识到，接触细颗粒物等复杂的环境因素可引发或加剧哮喘和心血管疾病等疾病，但具体化学或物理因素的重要性以及疾病与接触之间的因果关系仍有很大的不确定性。标准的气溶胶收集和分析方法不能提供真实的时间、空间和时间分辨率，并且常常是非常劳动密集型和非特异性的。所提出的方法将克服其中的许多困难，提供一种非常紧凑、重量轻、成本低的监测包，个人可以佩戴这种监测包，并与自动数据记录和/或传输设备以及全球定位系统或其他位置监测装置相结合，这种个人接触监测器将能够提供对各种环境气溶胶的时间和空间分辨测量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed research is to develop a personal exposure monitor for indoor and outdoor particulate matter in the ultrafine to 10 micron size range. The proposed device will collect large volumes of ambient air in the vicinity of the wearer's breathing zone and provide concentrated, size-classified samples for real-time analysis or for later analysis in a laboratory. This device will combine: (i) a novel aerosol concentrator to increase the particle concentration by up to three orders of magnitude, (ii) an aerodynamic size classifier to sort particles with sizes from 1 to 10 microns, and (iii) an electrostatic precipitator to capture and size classify particles smaller than 1 micron. The proposed monitor will provide the ability to couple the particle size classifier to a number of analytical assays (chemical or biological) that can be carried out in parallel. Combined with automated data recording and/or transmitting equipment and a GPS or other position-monitoring device, this monitor will be able to provide time- and space-resolved measurements of exposure to a wide range particulate matter. In the Phase I project-using advanced 3-dimensional, unsteady CFD methods-we will design a prototype of the aerodynamic particle size classifier, perform proof-of-concept experiments showing the feasibility of aerodynamic particle classification, and demonstrate nano-particle capture using an electrostatic precipitator. In Phase II we will combine the aerosol sampler/size classifier with a detection platform (possibly a microfluidic device) that can be used to carry out a variety of analyses on each size class in parallel. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: There is a growing awareness that exposure to complex environmental agents such as fine particulate matter can trigger or exacerbate diseases such as asthma and cardiovascular disease, however, there is still much uncertainty about the importance of specific chemical or physical factors and the causal relationship between disease and exposure. Standard aerosols collection and analysis methods cannot provide real time spatial and temporal resolution and often are often very labor intensive and non-specific. The proposed approach will overcome many of these difficulties by providing a very compact, light-weight, low-cost monitoring package that can be worn by an individual and, coupled to automated data recording and/or transmitting equipment and a GPS or other position-monitoring device, this personal exposure monitor will be able to provide time- and space-resolved measurements of a wide range of ambient aerosols.