Laboratory study of the performances of two individual Condensation Particle Counters

Abstract

Abstract In the general framework of investigating the performances of instruments that can be deployed in occupational hygiene to assess exposure to airborne nanoparticles, this study aims at providing new data relative to two new specimens of individual Condensation Particle Counters (CPC). Though a variety of instruments are available on the market, CPC constitute the devices that are used the most. Designed by the American company Enmont LLC, the first individual CPC allow personal measurements to be carried out. Here, the reliability of the PUFP C110 and C200 has been characterized in the laboratory. Our experimental results highlight that both individual CPC under study are impacted by both particle size (underestimation of the number concentration of ~20% when the modal diameter is lower than 40 nm, n = 21) and hydrophobicity (-60% to -90% compared to the reference concentration when aerosols are hydrophobic, n = 15). Except from these specific cases (n = 44), both individual CPC have a comparable and satisfying response (+30% with regards to the reference concentration).