100 Lightweight Air Sampling Badge for Material-Specific Monitoring of Workplace Aerosol Exposure

Abstract

Abstract Monitoring occupational exposure to hazardous airborne materials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene is an inevitable element of every risk mitigation strategy to protect employees. Conventional air samplers are often bulky, need to be operated by trained personnel and results are not available on-site. Here, we address these issues and introduce the patented Stat Peel Identifier system comprised of portable, lightweight sampling badges and a fully automatized Raman spectroscopy-based bench-top reader. This presentation is focused on the characterization of our air sampling badge and its capabilities in combination with our reader. The badges feature silent micro air pumps and a series of sensors to monitor flow rate, temperature, relative humidity, TVOC and movement during sampling. Filtration slides provide the means for inertia-based particle separation and deposition onto collection membranes optimized for efficient particle retention and inspection with Raman spectroscopy. The sampling characteristic of the badges closely follows the respirable convention according to ISO 7708 with an average sampler bias below 10%. Our analytical approach to quantify the collected particles using Raman spectroscopy and in-house developed analysis routines provide unprecedented sensitivity and material-specificity enabling e.g., the unambiguous distinction between CNTs and carbon black. The Identifier system provides fast results directly on-site and facilitates continuous monitoring and recording of long-term exposure histories for locations and employees. Lastly, recent advancements in the development of our respirable sampler towards a combined respirable/thoracic sampler are discussed in the context of emerging fields of application ranging from RCS to active pharmaceutical ingredients and modern battery materials.