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针对超细至10微米范围内的室内和室外颗粒物的个人暴露监测器。拟议中的装置将收集佩戴者呼吸区附近的大量环境空气，并提供浓缩的、按大小分类的样本，供实时分析或稍后在实验室进行分析。该设备将结合：(I)新型气溶胶浓缩器，可将颗粒浓度提高高达三个数量级；(Ii)气动粒度分级器，用于分选尺寸从1微米到10微米的颗粒；以及(Iii)静电除尘器，用于捕获小于1微米的颗粒并对其进行分级。拟议的监测器将提供将粒度分级器与许多分析分析(化学或生物)相结合的能力，这些分析分析可以并行进行。该监测仪与自动数据记录和/或传输设备以及全球定位系统或其他位置监测设备相结合，将能够提供对大范围颗粒物暴露的时间和空间分辨测量。在第一阶段项目中-使用先进的三维、非稳定CFD方法-我们将设计空气动力学颗粒分级的原型，进行概念验证实验，展示空气动力学颗粒分类的可行性，并演示使用静电除尘器捕获纳米颗粒。在第二阶段，我们将把气溶胶采样器/尺寸分类器与检测平台(可能是微流控装置)结合起来，可用于对每种尺寸类别并行进行各种分析。与公共健康相关：人们越来越意识到，暴露在细微颗粒物等复杂环境因素中会引发或加重哮喘和心血管疾病等疾病，然而，关于特定化学或物理因素的重要性以及疾病与暴露之间的因果关系仍存在很大不确定性。标准的气溶胶收集和分析方法不能提供实时的空间和时间分辨率，而且往往是非常劳动密集型和非特异性的。拟议的办法将克服其中的许多困难，方法是提供一个非常紧凑、重量轻、成本低的监测套装，供个人佩戴，再加上自动数据记录和/或传输设备以及全球定位系统或其他位置监测设备，这种个人接触监测仪将能够提供对各种环境气溶胶的时间和空间分辨率测量。

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.