DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOLOGICAL AEROSOL DETECTOR USING LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE AND A PARTICLE COLLECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

Abstract A real-time biological aerosol fluorescence detector was designed for monitoring aerosols in the atmosphere. The operating principles of the current biological aerosol monitoring system (BAMS) include the measurement of optically determined single particle properties, two fluorescence bands, and a scattering signal. Furthermore, the development of an algorithm to significantly increase the biological aerosol discrimination is described, which uses the results of the experimental evaluation of a number of aerosols in an evaluation chamber in the laboratory. The detector was applied to seasonal pollen, Asian dust, seawater environment, industrial zones, and residential areas in Korea. Applications of the device include all aspects of biological aerosol monitoring, including use as a biological agent trigger and as a hazardous environment monitor. The detectors were used in various laboratories as an ambient biological aerosol monitor and in various fields as a fast biological threat agent trigger in the 2010 G20 Seoul Summit and 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.