Abstract
The precision and accuracy of a prototype wearable liquid crystal monitor (LCM) for the measurement of airborne organophosphate pesticide concentrations was explored in a series of laboratory experiments. LCM response to vapor-phase and aerosol diazinon was compared to concentrations obtained using a standard reference method (NIOSH 5600) at concentrations ranging from ∼8 to 108 ppb (parts per billion) over durations of 2 to 80 hours. Temperature (∼25, 30, and 35 °C) and relative humidity (15, 50, and 85%) were varied to estimate the effect of these factors on LCM performance. The LCM response to vapor phase pesticide exposure was linear for concentrations in the range of 8-20 ppb. At exposure concentrations above ∼20 ppb, however, there was a decline in monitor response and measurement precision. Elevated temperatures improved diazinon vapor-only measurement precision, while increased relative humidity reduced LCM response at the extremes of tested temperatures. Compared to vapor-only exposures, the LCM was less sensitive to diazinon aerosol concentrations, but displayed reasonable precision over a relatively large range of exposures (29 to 1190 ppb-hr). Further efforts to characterize temperature and humidity effects and improve low-end sensitivity would likely provide a portable personal exposure monitor or environmental sensor for this widely used class of pesticides.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 49-55 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Environmental Monitoring |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2009 |