The aim of this text is to provide researchers and aerosol scientists with a scientific framework essential to a working knowledge of the processes relevant to aerosol sampling. A description of experimental methods is followed by details of the evolution of practical sampling techniques.

The study of the behaviour of aerosols has been an acknowledged branch of science in its own right ever since man became aware that ordinary atmospheric air consisted not only of gas molecules but also of suspended particles of matter - liquid or solid. Its practical importance was also recognized at an early stage, notably that the presence of airborne particles - although inevitable - is usually undesirable from the point of view not only of human health but also of atmospheric visibility, climate and general nuisance. The need to measure aerosols thus became closely linked with attempts to control and limit them. The aim of this text is to provide researchers, aerosol scientists and hygienists with a scientific framework essential to a working knowledge of the processes relevant to aerosol sampling. A description of experimental methods is followed by details of the evolution of practical sampling techniques.

Fluid mechanical background
aerosol mechanical background
experimental methods in aerosol sampler studies
the nature of air flow near aerosol samplers
aspiration efficiency of a thin-walled sampler in moving air
aspiration efficiency of a blunt sampler in moving air
aspiration efficiency of a sampler in calm air
effects of turbulence and electrostatic forces on aspiration efficiencies of samplers
wall effect contributions to sampler performance
criteria for practical aerosol sampling
sampling in stacks and ducts
sampling probes for stack sampling
sampling for coarse aerosol in workplaces
sampling for fine aerosol fractions in workplaces
sampling for aerosols in the ambient atmosphere
aerosol spectrometers
general sampling considerations.