Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2024-30
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2024-30
11 Nov 2024
 | 11 Nov 2024
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal AR.

Interlaboratory comparison exercise for micro-aerosol size measurement by cascade impactor

Grégoire Dougniaux, Cécile Bodiot, Bernadette Dhieux Lestaevel, Amandine Nuboer, Robin Wahl, and Amel Kort

Abstract. This study presents an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) exercise focused on measuring micro-aerosol size distributions using cascade impactors. The aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD) is a critical parameter for understanding aerosol behaviour, particularly for health-related applications. The ILC conducted at the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) aims to assess the performances of participating instruments measuring aerodynamic diameter, cascade impactors and an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) for real time monitoring. The experiments were performed in a custom test bench able to generate aerosols in a size range from 0.2 to 4 µm within a controlled environment. Performance evaluations of the participating instruments considering five distinct aerosol size distributions were assessed, and two methods – Henry's method and lognormal adjustment – were used to calculate the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and the geometric standard deviation (σg). Statistical analysis using ζ-score and Z'-score ensured the reliability of the results across participating instruments.

The findings demonstrates that most instruments performed within acceptable limits, though variations observed in some cases, particularly for smaller particle sizes. This work highlights the feasibility of standardized ILCs for APSD measurement and offers a framework for improving accuracy and consistency in aerosol size distribution assessments.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Grégoire Dougniaux, Cécile Bodiot, Bernadette Dhieux Lestaevel, Amandine Nuboer, Robin Wahl, and Amel Kort

Status: open (until 23 Dec 2024)

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  • RC1: 'Comment on ar-2024-30', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Nov 2024 reply
Grégoire Dougniaux, Cécile Bodiot, Bernadette Dhieux Lestaevel, Amandine Nuboer, Robin Wahl, and Amel Kort
Grégoire Dougniaux, Cécile Bodiot, Bernadette Dhieux Lestaevel, Amandine Nuboer, Robin Wahl, and Amel Kort

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Short summary
Ensuring that all measuring instruments deliver reliable results is an important task. For aerosol measurement, a health-related parameter is not yet well defined worldwide. We have therefore developed a test bench to evaluate and compare instruments on this key parameter. Based on the success of an initial comparison with our instruments, we underline the feasibility of a standardized test and offer a framework for improving accuracy and consistency of aerosol size distribution assessments.
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