Design and assessment of a chamber to expose plants to simulated aerosol and rain.

Increased reports of contaminants in atmospheric aerosols necessitate the development of exposure systems that can accurately simulate aerosols for research purposes. This study outlines the design, construction, cost, and performance of a simple plexiglass chamber equipped with nozzles for rain and aerosol generation. The chamber occupies approximately 152 cm x 125 cm (height x width) space and can be used to expose six large (625 cm2) plants or twelve smaller (144 cm2) ones. The total cost of the materials used in construction, including nozzles, was less than 700 dollars. Repeated analysis of the quantity and particle size distribution of the simulated aerosol and rain showed them to be highly predictable. By adjusting the volume and/or concentration of the spray, and the position of plants within the chamber, particle sizes typical of environmental aerosols (< or = 20 microm) and rains (0.7 to 1.2 mm) could be applied to experimental plants. This sample, economical system will allow for precise simulations of important aerosols and rain events in the study of their impingement on plants.