RSC Publishing


Publishing

 

Cover image for Journal of Environmental Monitoring, select for current issue

Journal of Environmental Monitoring

Cutting-Edge Research on Environmental Processes & Impacts



Subscribers

Non-subscribers

Free access



Critical Review

J. Environ. Monit., 2009, 11, 1758 - 1773, DOI: 10.1039/b912589m


JEM Spotlight: Environmental monitoring of airborne nanoparticles

L. Morawska, H. Wang, Z. Ristovski, E. R. Jayaratne, G. Johnson, H. C. Cheung, X. Ling and C. He


The aim of this work was to review the existing instrumental methods to monitor airborne nanoparticles in different types of indoor and outdoor environments in order to detect their presence and to characterise their properties. Firstly the terminology and definitions used in this field are discussed, which is followed by a review of the methods to measure particle physical characteristics including number, concentration, size distribution and surface area. An extensive discussion is provided on the direct methods for particle elemental composition measurements, as well as on indirect methods providing information on particle volatility and solubility, and thus in turn on volatile and semivolatile compounds of which the particle is composed. A brief summary of broader considerations related to nanoparticle monitoring in different environments concludes the paper.

Graphical abstract image for this article  (ID: b912589m)