Challenge with a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler in a Silicon Metal Smelter

Abstract

Cascade impactors are useful tools in the measurement of particle size mass distribution of workplace aerosols. The application of cascade impactors, however, is sometimes challenging. Personal aerosol samples were collected by Sioutas cascade impactors and respirable cyclones in parallel in a silicon (Si) metal smelter to investigate the different particulate matter (PM) fractions. In a second campaign, nine new air samples were collected with the Sioutas personal cascade impactors using stationary sampling. It was found that wall deposition was substantial in the upper stages of the Sioutas cascade impactors, which meant that quite often more PM was deposited on the inner walls of the impactor than on the filter substrates. At the same time, wall deposition did most probably not affect the collection of the finest particles (<0.25 µm). Besides wall deposition of the particles, the effect of high PM concentration on the impactor performance, particle bouncing and blow off, high particle mass loading and impact fragmentation of the particle agglomerates were considered for explaining the malfunctioning of the Sioutas impactors in the Si metal smelter. Furthermore, concentrations of the finest PM fraction (<0.25 µm) and respirable fraction both collected by personal sampling are reported and discussed in the paper.

There Is Still a Need for a Comprehensive Investigation of the Health Consequences of Exposure to Urban Air with Special Regard to Particulate Matter (PM) and Cardiovascular Effects

“…Health effects resulting from the deposition of PM in the respiratory tract depend on the dose received, the site of deposition, and the body's response to the deposited particles [120]. To estimate the deposited dose of PM, the particle size mass distribution of PM is needed, which can be measured by using cascade impactors (stationary and, if feasible, personal) [121][122][123]. Personal respiratory deposition samplers offer another means to measure the deposited amount of PM and its size sub-fractions (e.g., ultrafine particles) [124].…”

“…Air sampling: active (with sampling pump) personal sampling (also on the day off) 2.1. PM fractions (+ inorganic substances): via respirable, PM 2.5 , personal impactor samplers [122,123] 2.2. Markers of diesel exhaust exposure: 25 mm "total" cassettes equipped with quartz fiber filters and sodium iodine-impregnated filter pads [144] 2.3.…”

Influence of the dynamic behaviour of impactor surfaces on particulate matter emission measurements with electrical low pressure impactors

“…a cascade impactor) can be used to determine the aerodynamic particle size distribution of an aerosol. Cascade impactors are therefore commonly used in various research domains such as vehicle emissions [1], coal combustion [2], biomass combustion [3], atmospheric pollution [4], secondary organic aerosols [5] and workplace safety [6].…”