skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Evaluation of the direct reading instruments for the measurement of aerosols

Journal Article · · Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States)

Six portable, direct-reading instruments for measuring industrial aerosols were evaluated with respect to bias and precision. The Instruments were: Sibata P5, Simslin II, TM-digital, RAM-1, TSI 3500, and RDM 201. As a reference, total dust was determined using an open 37 mm cassette and respirable dust by sampling with a cyclone. Tests were carried out on aerosols simulated with a generator and a dust chamber, and also on aerosols in mines, sintering plants and smelters. Zero drift, reference unit drift, and flow rate drift were recorded during each test run. None of the 6 instruments gave the same readings as the filter method, but 4 of them could be calibrated to yield precision <25% for a given aerosol. The fifth instrument, Simslin II, showed somewhat greater precision and the sixth RDM 201, displayed precision >25%. Wide differences in factory precalibration were found among instruments of the same model.

OSTI ID:
6910889
Journal Information:
Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Vol. 44:11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English