RESUSPENSION OF PARTICLES CONTAINING ALLERGEN
Carlos Gomes Advisor: James Freihaut
PENN Penn State
Institutes of Environment
STATE
Asthma related statistics
18 million Americans affected Particles containing allergens
5,000+ death per year in the US Carrier particle Settling
Source Allergen Associated with
13 billion USD per year size time
Continues to increase
Sebaceous and 50% >9 µm
Cat Fel d 1 24-48 hr
anal glands 50% 9 µm
Dog Can f 1 NR 24-48 hr
50% 10 µm 30 min
Per a 1 parts
Air Swirls
Fecal pellets and
Dust Mite Der p 1, Der f 1 10-25 µm 30 min
aggregates
# particles/m3
Carrier
particle
0.1-50µm
Floor Allergen
Electric Field 5-10nm
Vibration
# particles/m2
Resuspension Factor
airborne concentrat ion (# /m 3 )
RF ( m −1 ) =
surface concentrat ion (# /m 2 ) Resuspension Research Process
Resuspension Rate
surface removal rate (# /(m 2 s))
RR ( s −1 ) =
surface concentration (# /m 2 )
Resuspension Chamber Optical Particle Counter
Environmental Chamber
Resuspension Chamber Sampling
Results
Quartz dust Controlled Particle
Cockroach dust Temperature & Counter
dp>2 µm Relative Humidity
Linoleum and carpet Particle Free Air
Perturbance: Cascade ELISA
• Vibration Impactor Analysis Cascade Impactor
• Air Puffs
Resuspension Factor Results
1.0E-03 Known Particle and Allergen Allergen Content
Known Flooring
1.0E-04
Known Floor Disturbance
Peak RF [m -1]
Quartz-Carpet
1.0E-05
Quartz-Linoleum
ELISA
Roach-Carpet
1.0E-06 Allergen concentration
Roach-Linoleum
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 18.0
1.0E-07
1.0E-08
Vibration Air-puff Vib+Air Known particles Known flooring Known mechanical/aerodynamic floor disturbance
Resuspension Factor Comparison Research Outcome
Gomes and Freihaut
2004
Healthier
Resuspension Factors Particle and Allergen Building
Sehmel, G.A., 1980, “Particle Resuspension: a review”, Allergen Concentration Exposure Simulation Construction/Remediation
Indoor
Environment International, Vol.4, pp.107-127 Environment
10-10 10-6 RF [m-1] 10-3 10-2