title: A personal nanoparticle respiratory deposition (NRD) sampler.
abstract: A lightweight (60 g), personal nanoparticle respiratory deposition (NRD) sampler was developed to selectively collect particles smaller than 300 nm similar to their typical deposition in the respiratory tract. The sampler operates at 2.5 Lpm and consists of a respirable cyclone fitted with an impactor and a diffusion stage containing mesh screens. The cut-point diameter of the impactor was determined to be 300 nm with a sharpness σ = 1.53. The diffusion stage screens collect particles with an efficiency that matches the deposition efficiency of particles smaller than 300 nm in the respiratory tract. Impactor separation performance was unaffected by loading at typical workplace levels (p-value = 0.26). With chemical analysis of the diffusion media, the NRD sampler can be used to directly assess exposures to nanoparticles of a specific composition apart from other airborne particles. The pressure drop of the NRD sampler is sufficiently low to permit its operation with conventional, belt-mounted sampling pumps.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors: Lorenzo G
authors: LG
authors: Cena
authors: T Renée
authors: TR
authors: Anthony
authors: Thomas M
authors: TM
authors: Peters
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism*; D012212:Rheology
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter