Effectiveness, Suitability, and Performance Testing of the SKC (registered trademark) Deployable Particulate Sampler as Compared to the Currently Fielded Airmetrics MiniVol (trademark)

Abstract : Epidemiological studies have linked particulate matter (PM) exposure to mortality, morbidity, cardiovascular disease in the elderly, and an increased rate ofrespiratory disease. In order to monitor and assess the potential PM health risk to deployed personnel, the U.S. Army must field a portable sampler which can accurately sample particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5). The sampler must be rugged, compact, durable, and battery operated. In this study the SKC (trademark) Deployable Particulate Sampler (DPS) is compared to the currently fielded Airmetrics MiniVol TM sampler in the hot, dry environment of Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona and the cold, wet environment of Fort Drum, New York. Ambient air PM2.5 was collected for fourteen and thirteen days respectively in each environment using pairs of one MiniVol (trademark) and one DPS at three locations simultaneously. The filters were removed, and the systems maintained as needed, every 24 hours. For all measurements taken and averaged, the DPS provided a higher (though not statistically significant) 24-hour concentration and collected 4.0 times more mass than the MiniVol (trademark) . The results for mass were significantly different. Results from ourstatistical analyses of concentration and mass were incorporated into a decision matrix for effectiveness (criteria: concentration and mass). Matrices for suitability (criteria: reliability, maintainability, interoperability/compatibility, training/documentation, and logistics support/safety) and performance (criteria: flow rate and size/weight) were also utilized to evaluate each of the systems. The DPS was shown to be an improvement over the MiniVol TM when evaluated for measures of effectiveness, measures of suitability, and measures of performance utilizing these matrices.