R.A. Botham

Papers

Total Citations

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About

R.A. Botham is a pioneering figure in occupational hygiene, whose research has fundamentally shaped how we measure and control workplace exposure to airborne dusts and aerosols. His key contributions lie in the development and validation of personal aerosol samplers, particularly those designed to capture the "inhalable fraction"—the portion of airborne particles that can enter the human respiratory system. Botham’s landmark 1990 study, "Field Comparison of Personal Samplers for Inhalable Dust," which has garnered 51 citations, provided critical real-world evidence that laboratory wind tunnel tests did not always predict sampler performance in actual industrial settings. By testing two different sampler designs across 23 diverse workplaces using a mobile, articulated breathing mannequin, he demonstrated the need for field-based validation. This work directly supported the adoption of new international standards from the ISO and ACGIH. His subsequent 1991 paper, "The Development of a Test System for Investigating the Performances of Personal Aerosol Samplers Under Actual Workplace Conditions," formalized this methodology, creating a benchmark for future sampler evaluation. Botham’s research remains essential reading for industrial hygienists and exposure scientists, bridging the gap between theoretical criteria and practical, protective monitoring.