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Raman spectroscopic identification of size-selected airborne particles for quantitative exposure assessment

Steer, Brian, Gorbunov, Boris, Price, Mark C., Podoleanu, Adrian G. (2016) Raman spectroscopic identification of size-selected airborne particles for quantitative exposure assessment. Measurement Science & Technology, 27 (4). Article Number 45801. ISSN 0957-0233. E-ISSN 1361-6501. (doi:10.1088/0957-0233/27/4/045801) (KAR id:55158)

Abstract

In this paper we present a method for the quantification of chemically distinguished airborne particulate matter, required for health risk assessment. Rather than simply detecting chemical compounds in a sample, we demonstrate an approach for the quantification of exposure to airborne particles and nanomaterials. In line with increasing concerns over the proliferation of engineered particles we consider detection of synthetically produced ZnO crystals. A multi-stage approach is presented whereby the particles are first aerodynamically size segregated from a lab-generated single component aerosol in an impaction sampler. These size fractionated samples are subsequently analysed by Raman spectroscopy. Imaging analysis is applied to Raman spatial maps to provide chemically specific quantification of airborne exposure against background which is critical for health risk evaluation of exposure to airborne particles. Here we present a first proof-of-concept study of the methodology utilising particles in the 2-4 μm aerodynamic diameter range to allow for validation of the approach by comparison to optical microscopy. The results show that the combination of these techniques provides independent size and chemical discrimination of particles. Thereby a method is provided to allow quantitative and chemically distinguished measurements of aerosol concentrations separated into exposure relevant size fractions. © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1088/0957-0233/27/4/045801
Additional information: This article contains IOP information ( http://iopscience.iop.org/page/STACKS#metadata) made available under a CC BY 3.0 licence ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Uncontrolled keywords: aerodynamic equivalent diameter, aerosols, particle characterization, quantitative exposure measurement, Raman spatial mapping, zinc oxide, Aerodynamics, Aerosols, Chemical compounds, Health risks, Raman spectroscopy, Zinc oxide, Aerodynamic diameters, Aerodynamic equivalent diameters, Aerosol concentration, Airborne particulate matters, Exposure measurement, Multistage approach, Particle Characterization, Spatial mapping, Risk assessment
Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
Q Science > QC Physics > QC355 Optics
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Giles Tarver
Date Deposited: 27 Apr 2016 08:42 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 22:24 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/55158 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Steer, Brian.

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Price, Mark C..

Creator's ORCID:
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Podoleanu, Adrian G..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4899-9656
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