TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of NIOSH 5040 method versus aethalometer™ to monitor diesel particulate in school buses and at work sites
AU - Borak, J.
AU - Sirianni, G.
AU - Cohen, H. J.
AU - Chemerynski, S.
AU - Wheeler, R.
PY - 2003/3/1
Y1 - 2003/3/1
N2 - This study, undertaken initially to understand apparent differences between two recent reports of diesel particulate matter (DPM) inside school buses, involved side-by-side comparisons of two different methods for measuring ambient and occupational exposures to DPM. The NIOSH 5040 method yields time-weighted-average measurements of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC), whereas the Aethalometer yields near-real time measures of carbonaceous particles (black carbon or BC) by optical absorption. The two methods were compared on three school buses and in three different work sites. Three side-by-side sampling configurations were used (open-faced filter with and without two different cyclones) in triplicate along with two or three Aethalometers. BC readings were correlated with results from openfaced cassettes, but there were statistically significant differences between the results of sideby- side Aethalometers. In addition, Aethalometer airflow rates were inaccurate, the instruments were sensitive to vibration, optical calibration could not be performed, and historically derived conversion factors to relate EC and BC were not appropriate. The Aethalometer could prove useful for monitoring of industrial work sites, but only after a method for external calibration and improvements in pump design and vibration isolation are developed.
AB - This study, undertaken initially to understand apparent differences between two recent reports of diesel particulate matter (DPM) inside school buses, involved side-by-side comparisons of two different methods for measuring ambient and occupational exposures to DPM. The NIOSH 5040 method yields time-weighted-average measurements of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC), whereas the Aethalometer yields near-real time measures of carbonaceous particles (black carbon or BC) by optical absorption. The two methods were compared on three school buses and in three different work sites. Three side-by-side sampling configurations were used (open-faced filter with and without two different cyclones) in triplicate along with two or three Aethalometers. BC readings were correlated with results from openfaced cassettes, but there were statistically significant differences between the results of sideby- side Aethalometers. In addition, Aethalometer airflow rates were inaccurate, the instruments were sensitive to vibration, optical calibration could not be performed, and historically derived conversion factors to relate EC and BC were not appropriate. The Aethalometer could prove useful for monitoring of industrial work sites, but only after a method for external calibration and improvements in pump design and vibration isolation are developed.
KW - Aethalometer
KW - Diesel particulate matter (DPM)
KW - NIOSH Method 5040
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U2 - 10.1080/15428110308984816
DO - 10.1080/15428110308984816
M3 - Article
C2 - 12688851
AN - SCOPUS:0037664481
SN - 1542-8117
VL - 64
SP - 260
EP - 268
JO - American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
JF - American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
IS - 2
ER -