NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

A personal cascade impactor: design, evaluation and calibration.

Rubow KL; Marple VA; Olin J; McCawley MA

Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1987 Jun; 48(6):532-538

https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668791385174

00171443

The design, operation, and evaluation of a cascade impactor suitable for personal sampling were described. The impactor was designed to be compact and lightweight. It could be used with four, six, or eight stages, with particle cut points ranging from 0.51 to 21 microns aerodynamic diameter (AD). The nozzles for the first six stages consisted of six radial slots per stage, and the nozzles for the seventh and eighth stages consisted of 12 circular holes arranged in a radial pattern. The surface between the nozzle slots or holes served as the impaction surface for the stage before it. The impactor was designed to be operated with a sample flow rate of 2 liters per minute, making it compatible for use with existing personal sampler pumps. The personal impactor was evaluated with monodisperse particles, ranging in size from 0.48 to 23 microns AD. It was shown to have high inlet sampling efficiency, sharp cut off characteristics, and low particle loss. The authors conclude that the personal cascade impactor described provides particle size distributions with the same accuracy as larger cascade impactors.

NIOSH-Author; Cascade-impactors; Airborne-particles; Workplace-studies; Particulate-sampling-methods; Respirable-dust; Occupational-exposure; Pulmonary-system

Kenneth L. Rubow, Particle Technology Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0111

AIHAAP

19870601

Journal Article

1987

6

0002-8894

DRDS

American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal

MN; WV