# Advanced Personal Sampler to Assess Occupational Exposures to Bioaerosols

> **NIH ALLCDC R01** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 2024 · $353,356

## Abstract

This grant application responds to PAR-18-812: Occupational Safety and Health Research (R01).
Exposure to airborne biological agents is known to cause a wide range of negative health effects in
occupational and general populations. Thus, advanced exposure assessment tools are needed. The proposed
project will complete the development and testing of a novel, standalone, battery-operated personal
electrostatic bioaerosol sampler (PEBS) featuring a high sample concentration rate. In the completed PEBS,
bioaerosols will be drawn into an open channel collector at 20 L/min, electrically charged, and deposited inside
a removable cartridge with a hydrophobic collection plate. The collected particles will be eluted into 0.5 mL of
liquid using a newly designed elution station. The eluate can then be analyzed by various techniques, from
culturing to molecular tools, sequencing, and rapid analysis kits. In the exploratory research, we demonstrated
the feasibility of this personal sampler concept and built its prototype. This R01 project will complete the
sampler’s development, including integration with electronic components and controls and the elution station.
The completed sampler version will quadruple the sample concentration rate compared to the prototype. The
performance of PEBS will be validated using different microorganisms, including coronavirus OC43, and
multiple microbial analysis techniques. The standalone PEBS will be rigorously tested against other personal
samplers, including its use in the field to determine actual personal bioaerosol exposures in various
occupational environments. We hypothesize that the standalone PEBS is advantageous over current personal
bioaerosol samplers in determining bioaerosol exposures, especially at low microorganism concentrations.
 This proposal responds to NORA’s Priority Research Agendas National Agriculture, Forestry, and
Fishing; National Services; National Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities by answering their call to
improve exposure assessment to occupational agents (e.g., biological agents) and to prevent and reduce
work-related illnesses, including respiratory infectious diseases and asthma. The proposal also responds to
several cross-sector programs, e.g., Respiratory Health and Immune, Dermal & Infectious Diseases.
 This proposal responds to the NIOSH r2P initiative by developing an innovative tool that will enable an
improved assessment of personal exposures to biological air contaminants, leading to worker health
protection. The new personal sampling technology will eventually be transferred into the workplace.
 The study output will be an advanced standalone personal bioaerosol sampler for occupational
environments and publications/presentations describing the technology and its performance and application.
We expect that intermediate outcomes will include a patent, citations in the literature, and, finally, adoption of
the sampler in practice. The end outcome is expected to be a better un...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10979970
- **Project number:** 1R01OH012583-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **Principal Investigator:** Taewon T Han
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $353,356
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10979970

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10979970, Advanced Personal Sampler to Assess Occupational Exposures to Bioaerosols (1R01OH012583-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10979970. Licensed CC0.

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