Classification of particles from the farm environment by automated sizing, counting and chemical characterisation with scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy

摘要: About 60 000 particles in 288 aerosol samples collected during farm work have been characterised with automated particle analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Based on EDS-analysis of materials known composition (potato flour, α-quartz, K-feldspar β-wollastonite), criteria were developed for classification as: (1) organic, (2) silicon-rich (silica), (3) other inorganic particles. The reproducibility the relative mass proportions dust was 0.078 when approximately 200 per sample. Field from environment showed clear differences composition. Generally, dominated mass. proportion organic highest tending swine poultry, 55 38% respectively. Silica amounted to 10 20% total handling crops, e.g. grain, straw, hay, potatoes, onions. It seems likely that results can be used etiologic studies, but further validation would needed quantitative purposes.