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Table 1 Selected measurement and sampling devices for airborne particles

From: Nanoparticle exposure at nanotechnology workplaces: A review

Measurement/sampling device

Size range/time resolution/metric + equivalent diameter

References

Size resolved

  

    Time resolved

  

Scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS)

2.5 nm - 1000 nm

> 30 s

number size distribution, based on electrical mobility diameter

[10, 11]

Electrometer based mobility particle sizer:

fast mobility particle sizer (FMPS)/engine exhaust particle sizer (EEPS)

5.6 nm - 560 nm

1 s/0.1 s

number size distribution, based on electrical mobility diameter

[12, 13]

Electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI)

6 nm - 10 μm

0.1 s

number size distribution, based on aerodynamic dia.

[14]

Optical particle sizer (OPS):- laser aerosol spectrometer (LAS)

(> 60 nm) > 300 nm - 20 μm

1 s

number size distribution, based on light scattering equivalent dia.

[15]

Inertial spectrometer/time of flight instruments:

- aerodynamic particle sizer (APS)

500 nm - 20 μm

1 s

number size distribution of the aerodynamic dia.

[16]

Size resolved

  

    Time integrated

  

Low pressure cascade impactor

> 20 nm

n.a.

mass size distribution, chemical analysis, morphology

[17, 18]

Micro orifice uniform deposit impactor (Moudi)

10 nm -20 μm

n.a.

mass size distribution, chemical analysis, morphology

[18]

Wide range aerosol system (WRAS)

5.5 nm - 32 μm

5 min number size distribution

[19]

Thermal precipitator (TP)

20 - ca. 300 nm

n.a.

size distribution

[20]

Size integrated

  

    Time resolved

  

Condensation particle counter (CPC)

5.5 nm - 9 μm

1 s

particle number concentration (NC)

[21, 22]

Surface area monitors (e.g. electrical aerosol detector (EAD), nanoparticle surface area monitor (NSAM), LQ1-DC)

10 nm - > 1 μm

1 s

aerosol length (EAD), active surface area (LQ1-DC), lung deposited surface area (NSAM)

[23–25]

Aerosol photometer

250 nm - 20 μm

1 s

mass concentration

 

Size integrated

  

    Time integrated

  

Electrostatic precipitator (ESP)

> 20 nm

n.a.

chemical analysis, morphology

[26]

Thermal precipitator (TP)

> 20 nm

n.a.

chemical analysis, morphology

[20]

Filtration (e.g. PM10, PM2.5)

mass concentration, chemical composition

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