Personal Exposure Characterization

Traditionally, ambient air pollution levels have been measured using stationary monitoring sites. However, it has been found that the average human breathes in much more particulate matter than recorded at stationary sites due to food cooking, transportation, mowing the lawn, etc.

Participants in the project will wear a Personal Particle Speciation Sampler (PPSS) on their person for several days. The PPSS is a device that pumps in air and removes particles larger than 2.5 microns in diameter, leaving smaller particles for later analysis.

The participant will record his or her daily activities, and a light sensor will be attached to the sampler to verify whether the person is indoors or outdoors.

By knowing where the participant is and what he or she is doing, we will be able to characterize what daily activities lead to high particle intake.

Here I am wearing the Personal Particle Speciation Sampler.


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