Derivation and Use of Simple Relationships Between Aerodynamic and Optical Particle Measurements
Abstract
A simple relationship, referred to as a mass conversion factor (MCF), is presented to convert optically based particle measurements to mass concentration. It is calculated from filter-based samples and optical particle counter (OPC) data on a daily or sample period basis. The MCF allows for greater temporal and spatial mass concentration information than typical filter-based measurements. Results of MCF calculations from several field studies are summarized. Pairwise comparisons from a collocated study with multiple OPCs and mass samplers suggest the minimum variability of the MCF is 5–10%. The variability of the MCF within a sample period during a field study with distributed samplers averaged 17–21%. In addition, the precision of the Airmetrics MiniVol Portable Air Sampler for particulate matter (PM) was typically <10%. Comparisons with federal reference method (FRM) samplers showed that MiniVols yield PM2.5 concentrations essentially equivalent to FRMs with slightly greater deviations from the FRM for PM10 under tested ambient conditions