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atmos:pestiside:home

Pesticide Air Sampling

Setting up the Samplers

Parts of the Sampler

1) Sampler 'body': long column with tip; tip covered with tin foil.

2) Sampler 'base': Curcular base with 3 screws- Top metal disc, top disc plate.

3) 2 orange discs and 2 white discs, Polyurethane glass cylinder: Covered with tinfoil.

Supplies Needed

Gloves, tin foil, label maker, filters in petri dishes, kimwipes.

Setting up the Sampler

1) Put on appropriately sized gloves and unscrew the Sampler body from the Sampler base. Inside both the body and the base, there should be an orange disc. Place the body to the side, you'll be working on the base first.

2) Flip the base over so that the screws are facing towards you/upward. Unscrew the black pieces and let the screws fall gently. Remove the top disc plate and place it upside down and to the side, also remove metal disc and place it to the side. You should see 2 white discs and a gritted metal filter.

3) Remove the white discs, and clean them with a kimwipe: white debris is from dissolved filters. Place one to the side when finished. Take the other white disc and place it on the base, should line up with the circular edge of the base.

4) Retrieve the desired filter and remove it carefully from the petri dish: you may want to use a white disc to gently slide underneath, and lift up the filter. There are two sides to the filter. A gritted, patterned, side and a rough side. The rough side should be seen facing towards you/upward when the filter is placed.

5) Place another white disc on top of the filter. Make sure that the filter edge is inside both discs. Place the metal disc on top, then the metal disc plate following. Then, screw the 3 screws back on and flip the base back over so that it's balancing on its screws.

  1. Do not screw these too tight. Just enough to have it secure, too tight of a seal can damage the delicate filters.

6) Take the polyurethane glass cylinder out of its tin foil. Place it inside the body so the foam is open towards the base. Screw the body and base back together. Label both the body and the base with the correct filter ID and project.

  1. Ex. Pesticide Filter Run in 2024.

Changing Out the Samplers

1) You will need to bring the next Sampler, the notebook, and a pen. Access the Roof: Directions below. Locate the Sampler motor.

2) Remove the lid by unhooking the hook and re-hooking it on the back. Open the door on the bottom by twisting the black nob. DO NOT TURN OFF THE MOTOR until you have taken the following measurements:

  1. End time, date, count, and pressure: Record them under previous Sampler session.

3) You may turn off the motor now, if bothered by the noise, by opening the inside door and flipping the bottom switch to the right. Back under the top hatch, you will see the particle collector attached to the Sampler. Start by removing the particle collector by unscrewing it, and gently resting it on the side of the chamber. Remove the orange disc on the bottom and place it in the inside of the chamber, so that it does not get lost.

4) Place the metal disc plate, located in the bottom of the chamber, and flip it over to screw back on the Sampler. Screw and secure it. Remove the Sampler by lifting the two metal rings upwards. Take the foil off the sampler and place it on the old Sampler. Place the old Sampler to the side.

5) Place the new sampler so that one of the screws aligns with the front of the chamber, where the cover latches. Pull the rings down on both sides to secure the Sampler. Unscrew and remove the metal place and flip it upside down on the bottom of the chamber. Place the orange ring from the particle collector in its place.

6) Place the particle collector on to, and secure it with the screws. Again, being careful not to secure it too tight. Turn the motor back on. Then, record the following in the notebook under a new Sampler line:

  1. Sampler label, start date, start time, start count, start H20.

Accessing the Roof

1) Access the roof key in 423L. On the inside of the left farthest cabinet of the right side wall: wall shared with 430. There will be a sign out sheet for the keys. Put your name and time you obtained the keys. You will need the code to access the keys. When done, place keys back and lock them up. Put the time you put them back as well.

2) Walk up to the roof hatch. Unlock it with the red key. Pull the lever on the left hand side so that you can lift the hatch straight up.

3) When leaving, pull the hatch downwards using the red handle. Then, use the same lever you opened it with to seal the hatch. There should be no light coming throught and you should not be able to push up and open it.

atmos/pestiside/home.txt · Last modified: 2024/09/17 14:12 by post