A Personal Monitor for Space- and Time-Resolved Measurements of Aerosol Exposure

描述(由申请人提供)：拟议的项目将开发和演示一种微型便携式气溶胶采样器，该采样器将收集一系列按时间和地点分辨的个人暴露样本，用于对环境暴露、遗传和健康之间的关系进行研究。它还将开发一个台式化验装置，对收集的样本进行内毒素比色分析。采样器将采用一系列新颖的微通道采集器，当与位置监视器(GPS)和活动监视器(加速计)结合使用时，将收集曝光样本的时间序列，这些样本将带有时间和位置戳，使研究人员能够充分描述受试者在其环境中旅行时的暴露历史。采样单元将非常小，重量轻，电池操作，即使是一个10岁的孩子也可以把它装在背包里携带。这一设备将显著提高在空间和时间上定位暴露事件的能力，并将提供一个关键工具，用于解决暴露与人类健康影响之间关系的不确定性。每个采样单元将包含一个旋转传送带，该传送带容纳一组微通道采集器，这些微通道采集器将以30分钟(或更短)的间隔采集样本。旋转木马最多可以容纳48名采集者，可以在24小时内采集样本。一旦收集了所有样本，传送带将被转移到台式化验单元，该单元将对所有收集的样本进行分析，极大地减少了在典型流行病学研究期间收集的大量样本的分析工作。该气溶胶采样和检测设备将与太平洋西北国家实验室(PNNL)开发的自动化技术相结合，以生产一个自给自足的便携式个人暴露采样单元和一个台式化验单元。Enertech将负责气溶胶采样和微流控组件以及系统集成。PNNL将调整其自动化、电源管理以及位置和运动传感技术，以用于PEM。华盛顿大学(UW)将利用FAR Science开发的微型比色读数装置协助实施内毒素检测。样机将被开发，并将与华盛顿大学合作，在各种环境中进行现场测试，以展示取样器和台式分析装置的性能。该系统将是第一个提供高效气溶胶与微流体接口的系统，也是第一个在便携式包装中提供自动化、时间和空间分辨率采样的系统。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed project will develop and demonstrate a miniaturized, portable aerosol sampler that will collect a series of time- and location-resolved personal exposure samples for conducting research into the relationships among environmental exposure, genetics and health. It will also develop a bench-top assay unit that will perform colorimetric assays for endotoxin on the collected samples. The sampler will employ an array of novel micro-channel collectors, and, when combined with a position-monitor (GPS) and activity monitor (accelerometer), will collect a time-series of exposure samples that will be time- and location- stamped to allow researchers to fully characterize the exposure history of subjects as they travel through their environment. The sampling unit will be extremely small, light-weight and battery operated to allow it to be carried in a back-pack even by a 10-year old child. This device will significantly improve the ability to localize exposure events in space and time and will provide a critical tool for use in resolving uncertainties about the relationships between exposure and human health impacts. Each sampling unit will contain a carousel holding an array of micro-channel collectors which will collect samples at 30 minute (or shorter) intervals. The carousel will hold up to 48 collectors allowing samples to be collected over a 24 hour period. Once all the samples have been collected, the carousel will be transferred to the bench-top assay unit which will perform assays on all of the collected samples, greatly reducing the workload associated with the analysis of the numerous samples collected during a typical epidemiological study. This aerosol sampling and detection apparatus will be integrated with automation technology developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to produce a self-contained portable personal exposure sampling unit and a bench-top assay unit. Enertechnix will be responsible for the aerosol sampling and microfluidic components and for system integration. PNNL will adapt its automation, power management, and position- and motion- sensing technologies for use in the PEM. The University of Washington (UW) will assist in the implementation of an endotoxin assay employing a miniature colorimetric readout unit developed by FAR Sciences. Prototypes will be developed and, in collaboration with the UW, will be field tested in a variety of environments to demonstrate the performance of the sampler and bench-top assay unit. This system will be the first to provide a highly efficient aerosol to microfluidics interface and the first to provide automated, time- and space-resolved sampling in a portable package.