Measurement of aerosols with a particle counter

Context

• Scientists have demonstrated a simpler alternative: use a commercially available particle counter.

How the counter is significant?

• The novel coronavirus spreads primarily via aerosols, or tiny droplets generated by a cough or a sneeze that may be carrying the virus.
• The concentration of aerosols in public spaces, can give a measure of infection risk, but making that measurement usually requires specialists and specialized equipment.

How this particle counter is different from other counters?

• It will not include background dust besides the aerosols.
• The device used comes with six different size channels — 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 microns.

What are the other techniques?

• Aerosol concentration is often measured using a technique called laser diffraction, in which a laser beam passing through a sample lights up different-sized particles differently.