Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study: Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter - Development of Standard Operating Procedures for Particle Collection and Gravimetric Analysis
2013-06
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Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study: Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter - Development of Standard Operating Procedures for Particle Collection and Gravimetric Analysis
Published Date
2013-06
Publisher
University of Minnesota Duluth
Type
Technical Report
Abstract
Since late 2008, the Natural Resources Research Institute’s overall participation in the
Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study has been focused on the characterization of aerosol
particulate matter on the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota. This study is formally
known as the “Environmental Study of Airborne Particulates,” and it is one of five studies being
conducted by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the Natural Resources
Research Institute.
An initial standard operating procedure (SOP) for particle sampling associated with the
“Environmental Study of Airborne Particulates” was first developed through planning and
collaboration with aerosol scientists at the University of Minnesota, Department of Mechanical
Engineering. Since then, through additional experimentation and revisions, the original SOP
sampling document has evolved into the comprehensive narrative that it is at present. This
current document outlines a history of evolving in-house experiments and observations that
ultimately resulted in the development of the SOP adopted by and practiced in the
“Environmental Study of Airborne Particulates.” Equipment utilized in sample collection
included the Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposition Impactor (MOUDI; Marple et al., 1991), a
device which collects size-fractionated samples of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters
ranging from 30.0 to 0.056 microns, and a final filter that collects particles with aerodynamic
diameters less than 0.056 microns. As well, a Total Filter Sampler (TFS), which collects all size
fractions of particulate matter on a single substrate, was utilized so that particulate could be
evaluated using Minnesota Department of Health analytical methods (Minnesota Department of
Health Method 852). Results from the MOUDI sampling allow particulate matter (PM) to be
classified into specific size classifications including: PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, which are important
in assessing potential air quality measurements. As well, samples collected using the MOUDI
sampler could be further evaluated using a wide variety of physical and chemical methods (for
example, analysis using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, chemical analysis using
proton induced X-ray emission analysis (PIXE)).
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Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth MN 55811-1442
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Monson Geerts, Stephen D; Hudak, George J; Marple, Virgil; Lundgren, Dale; Bernard, Olson; Bandli, Bryan; Brecke, Devon M. (2013). Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study: Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter - Development of Standard Operating Procedures for Particle Collection and Gravimetric Analysis. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/187089.
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