Journal article
Inter-comparison of low-cost sensors for measuring the mass concentration of occupational aerosols
Aerosol science and technology, Vol.50(5), pp.462-473
05/03/2016
DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2016.1162901
PMCID: PMC5580827
PMID: 28867868
Abstract
Low-cost sensors are effective for measuring the mass concentration of ambient aerosols and second-hand smoke in homes, but their use at concentrations relevant to occupational settings has not been demonstrated. We measured the concentrations of four aerosols (salt, Arizona road dust, welding fume, and diesel exhaust) with three types of low-cost sensors (a DC1700 from Dylos and two commodity sensors from Sharp), an aerosol photometer, and reference instruments at concentrations up to 6500 µg/m
3
. Raw output was used to assess sensor precision and develop equations to compute mass concentrations. EPA and NIOSH protocols were used to assess the mass concentrations estimated with low-cost sensors compared to reference instruments. The detection efficiency of the DC1700 ranged from 0.04% at 0.1 µm to 108% at 5 µm, as expected, although misclassification of fine and coarse particles was observed. The raw output of the DC1700 had higher precision (lower coefficient of variation, CV = 7.4%) than that of the two sharp devices (CV = 25% and 17%), a finding attributed to differences in manufacturer calibration. Aerosol type strongly influenced sensor response, indicating the need for on-site calibration to convert sensor output to mass concentration. Once calibrated, however, the mass concentration estimated with low-cost sensors was highly correlated with that of reference instruments (R
2
= 0.99). These results suggest that the DC1700 and Sharp sensors are useful in estimating aerosol mass concentration for aerosols at concentrations relevant to the workplace.
© 2016 American Association for Aerosol Research
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Inter-comparison of low-cost sensors for measuring the mass concentration of occupational aerosols
- Creators
- Sinan Sousan - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of IowaKirsten Koehler - Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthGeb Thomas - Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of IowaJae Hong Park - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of IowaMichael Hillman - Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of IowaAndrew Halterman - Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of IowaThomas M Peters - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Aerosol science and technology, Vol.50(5), pp.462-473
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- DOI
- 10.1080/02786826.2016.1162901
- PMID
- 28867868
- PMCID
- PMC5580827
- ISSN
- 0278-6826
- eISSN
- 1521-7388
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/03/2016
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9983997463002771
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