Identification of Skin in Airborne Particulate Matter

Abstract

IN the assessment of airborne particulate contamination, it is necessary to identify and quantify the particle species in the environment. Many of the particles recovered from the air have been identified microscopically as being skin scales shed from humans, similar to those shown in Fig. 1. In some circumstances particles may be recovered which are fragmented and appear “dirty” and their microscopic identification then becomes difficult¹. This is especially true when airborne samples from outside air contain small fragments of leaves or the wax cuticle from plant surfaces which are similar in appearance to skin scales.