What is a disadvantage of the Rotorod method in particle collection?

The Rotorod method is designed to collect airborne particles for analysis, and while it has its strengths, a notable disadvantage is its poor collection efficiency for particles that are less than 10 μm in size. This is significant because many respiratory pathogens and allergens are within this size range, making effective collection critical for accurate assessment of environmental and health-related studies.

Particles smaller than 10 μm can remain suspended in the air for extended periods and can penetrate deep into the respiratory system, thus posing health risks. The limitations in efficiency with smaller particles may result in under-representation of these significant components in air samples collected with the Rotorod method.

The other aspects regarding equipment cost, user training, and the capture of large particles do not significantly impact the Rotorod method's effectiveness as much as the challenge posed by smaller particles. Therefore, the poor collection efficiency for particles less than 10 μm is central to understanding the limitations and considerations when using this method for particle collection.