Assessment of real-time bioaerosol particle counters using reference chamber experiments

Lieberherr, Gian-Duri; Auderset, Kevin; Calpini, B.; Clot, Bernard; Crouzy, Benoît; Gysel, M.; Konzelmann, Thomas; Maya‐Manzano, José María; Zubnar, Andrea; Moallemi, Alireza; O’Connor, David J.; Šikoparija, Branko; Sauvageat, Eric; Tummon, Fiona; Vasilatou, Konstantina

doi:10.5194/amt-14-7693-2021

Cited by 24 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…While the manual measurements cannot be considered a "gold standard" in terms of pollen measurements, they provide a well-known reference against which the other instruments can be evaluated. More accurate methods to validate the particle number counts of most automatic pollen monitors exist, however, such laboratory-based studies have so far only used artificial particles and not known concentrations of real pollen grains ( [28]). This study is the first of its kind presenting results from the full range of instruments available in 2019.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A first evaluation of multiple automatic pollen monitors run in parallel

et al. 2021

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A range of commercially-available automatic pollen monitors were run in parallel and evaluated for the first time during the 2019 spring season; this includes the Droplet Measurement Technologies WIBS-NEO, Helmut-Hund BAA-500, the Plair Rapid-E, two Swisens Poleno, and two Yamatronics KH-3000 devices. The instruments were run from 19 April to 31 May 2019 and located in Payerne, Switzerland, representative of a semi-rural site on the Swiss plateau. The devices were validated against Hirst-type traps in terms of total pollen counts for daily and sub-daily averages. While the manual measurements cannot be considered a "gold standard" in terms of absolute values, they provide an established reference against which the automatic instruments can be evaluated. Overall, there was considerable spread between instruments compared to the manual observations. The devices showed better performance when daily averages were considered, with three of the seven showing non-significantly different values from the manual measurements. However, when six-hourly averages were considered, only one of the instruments was not significantly different from the Hirst trap average. The largest differences between instruments were evident at low pollen concentrations (< 20 pollen grains/m 3 ), no matter the temporal resolution considered. This is in part, however, to be expected since it is at such low concentrations that the Hirst measurements are most uncertain. It is also important to note that in 2019 many of the instruments tested had only recently been developed. Differences may also have arisen due to their varying abilities to identify specific pollen taxa or because the classification algorithms applied were developed for different pollen taxa and not total pollen, the variable considered in this study Keywords pollen • automatic monitoring • validation • real-time • Hirst 1. Introduction Airborne pollen form just a small fraction of the atmospheric bioaerosol loading ([36]; [18]; [39]), but despite their low number concentrations these particles are of significant importance because of their impact on human health ([38]; [47]; [14]), agriculture and sylviculture ([6]; [20]), as well as on climate through their role in the hydrological cycle ([35]; [10]). Pollen monitoring networks exist in most countries, providing information to a range of end-users from allergy sufferers and their doctors through to researchers. The current standard that is used across these networks is based on manual technology developed in the early 1950s ([17]; [13]; [2]) that is both time-consuming and laborious. Furthermore, this measurement technique suffers from several shortcomings, including the fact that data are delivered at low temporal resolution (usually daily averages) with a delay of between 3-9 days from the time of observation. New technologies developed over the past few years have made it possible to automatically measure pollen at high temporal resolutions and in real-time ([41],[33], [40]). The provision of such observations is dramatically ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A first evaluation of multiple automatic pollen monitors run in parallel

et al. 2021

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“…Un-modified, hydrophobic polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres were used in an 80:20 mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ultrapure water. PSL provide an inert and suitable matrix for delivery of hydrophobic substances (Lieberherr et al 2021 ). The performance characteristics of the atomizer are detailed in the SM, S1.2, and Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the oxidative potential of components of fine particulate matter surface-mediated?

Baumann

Wietzoreck

Shahpoury

et al. 2022

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Redox-active substances in fine particulate matter (PM) contribute to inhalation health risks through their potential to generate reactive oxygen species in epithelial lung lining fluid (ELF). The ELF’s air–liquid interface (ALI) can play an important role in the phase transfer and multi-phase reactions of redox-active PM constituents. We investigated the influence of interfacial processes and properties by scrubbing of coated nano-particles with simulated ELF in a nebulizing mist chamber. Weakly water-soluble redox-active organics abundant in ambient fine PM were reproducibly loaded into ELF via ALI mixing. The resulting oxidative potential (OP) of selected quinones and other PAH derivatives were found to exceed the OP resulting from bulk mixing of the same amounts of redox-active substances and ELF. Our results indicate that the OP of PM components depends not only on the PM substance properties but also on the ELF interface properties and uptake mechanisms. OP measurements based on bulk mixing of phases may not represent the effective OP in the human lung.

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“…Calibration curves of the counting efficiency versus particle size can thus be produced and these should be reported for each instrument (e.g. Lieberherr et al, 2021). The corresponding scaling factors should then be used to calculate final concentrations.…”

Section: Counting Efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards standardisation of automatic pollen and fungal spore monitoring: best practises and guidelines

et al. 2022

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Standards for manual pollen and fungal spore monitoring have been established based on several decades of experience, tests, and research. New technological and methodological advancements have led to the development of a range of different automatic instruments for which no standard yet exist. This paper aims to provide an overview of aspects that need to be considered for automatic pollen and fungal spore monitoring, including a set of guidelines and recommendations. It covers issues relevant to developing an automatic monitoring network, from the instrument design and calibration through algorithm development to site selection criteria. Despite no official standard yet existing, it is essential that all aspects of the measurement chain are carried out in a manner that is as standardised as possible to ensure high-quality data and information can be provided to end-users.

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Assessment of real-time bioaerosol particle counters using reference chamber experiments

Cited by 24 publications

References 29 publications

A first evaluation of multiple automatic pollen monitors run in parallel

A first evaluation of multiple automatic pollen monitors run in parallel

Is the oxidative potential of components of fine particulate matter surface-mediated?

Towards standardisation of automatic pollen and fungal spore monitoring: best practises and guidelines

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