To better understand the health effects associated with ultrafine particles, there is a need to complement traditional parameters (PM10 and PM2.5) by establishing networks to routinely monitor ultrafine particles. The Model 3031 Ultrafine Particle (UFP) Monitor has been specifically designed for long-term, air quality monitoring networks.
The UFP (Ultrafine Particle) Monitor operates continuously, 24-hours a day, for months on end, with minimal maintenance and requires no working fluids. The UFP Monitor does not have a radioactive source, so there are no special licensing requirements and no restrictions for its use or where it can be installed. The Model 3031 fits into a standard 19-inch, rack mount cabinet, which allows it to be easily installed into existing roadside and urban air quality monitoring stations. A bench top version of this instrument (the Model 3031-1) is available for laboratory or mobile applications.
Developed under the auspices of European Union UFIPOLNET project, the UFP (Ultrafine Particle) Monitor has demonstrated it is well suited for long-term, ultrafine particle monitoring. Since the beginning of 2007, four UFP Monitors have been routinely monitoring ultrafine particles in Stockholm, Dresden, Prague and Augsburg.
More recently, the UFP (Ultrafine Particle) Monitor Model 3031 was selected by Delaware's DNR- Division of Air Quality Management for its proven ability to continuously count particles on the nano scale. The results generated from this study will help determine the necessity of future regulations regarding nano emissions. For more information on this study and the UFP Monitor's role, read the article in Air and Waste Matters November 2009 issue.