Evaluation of standard and modified sampling heads for the International PBI Surface Air System bioaerosol samplers

Abstract

This study substituted sampling heads with smaller holes to collect small particles with the International PBI Surface Air System (SAS) battery-powered, bioaerosol air samplers, which have proved inefficient in collecting small airborne particles such as free bacteria (e.g., < 2 microns). An Andersen six-stage (6-STG) sampler was used simultaneously with two SAS samplers (SAS high flow [SAS-HF] and Compact SAS [SAS-C]) to sample indoor air in two office environments. Discrepancies were observed in the flow rate results obtained using the manufacturer's Pitot Validation Kit (PVK). Air sampling results suggested no significant difference in the concentration of bacteria and fungi collected among the four sampling heads using either sampler model in a small sample (n = 5) at either site. However, with an additional 15 samples at Site B (n = 5 + 15 = 20), three of the four sampling heads statistically undersampled the 6-STG and the other sampling head. The field data were variable (geometric standard deviation [GSD] = 1.25-1.94 for bacteria; GSD = 1.18-3.51 for fungi), but within ranges previously observed. The manufacturer increased particle collection efficiency by decreasing the hole size; however, this increase was only noticeable after many replicates. The PVK may be used as an accurate flow rate measurement device with the SAS-HF sampler, though the Pitot tube measures only centerline velocity pressure. Because of the 10% decrease in flow rate resulting from the pressure drop across the PVK, the equation in the manufacturer's literature for calculation of average velocities (VAVG) provides a reasonable estimate of flow rate through the SAS-C sampler.