Can BSNE (Big Spring Number Eight) samplers be used to measure PM10, respirable dust, PM2.5 and PM1.0?

Wind tunnel and field measurements were conducted to evaluate whether the Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE) sampler can be used to measure ambient concentrations of PM10 (particles less that 10 μm), respirable dust (particles less than 4 μm or PM4), PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 μm) and PM1.0 (particles less than 1 μm). The BSNE was tested against the DustTrak Aerosol Monitor and relationships with several other active automated samplers were investigated. Concentrations obtained from BSNE and DustTrak samplers tend to be comparable (less than 50% difference) within the wind speed interval 2–7 m s−1 (PM10) or 2–9 m s−1 (PM4, PM2.5, and PM1.0) provided appropriate corrections are made for sampler efficiency, cut-off percentage and data transfer from mass to volume (or reverse). For wind speeds <2 m s−1 the DustTrak significantly underestimates the concentration compared to the BSNE. No data were available from this study for wind speeds >10 m s−1. Field measurements confirmed the wind tunnel data, but only for PM10. No field information was available for PM4, PM2.5 and PM1.0. Comparisons with data from the literature suggest that the BSNE behaves similar to several active automated gravimetric samplers, at least for PM10 and within the wind speed interval 1–5 m s−1. No data were available to confirm this conclusion for higher wind speeds or other size fractions.

► Raw DustTrak concentrations are higher than raw BSNE concentrations.
► Corrected DustTrak and BSNE concentrations are comparable for winds between 2 and 8 m s−1.
► PM10 concentrations measured by BSNEs are comparable to PM10 concentrations measured by active gravimetric samplers.