A small area electrostatic aerosol collector comprising: a collector housing; an inlet nozzle that extends from the collector housing to provide an inlet for air to flow from outside of the collector housing to the inside of the collector housing; a sample substrate receiving area within the collector housing; an inlet tube coupled to the inlet nozzle and defining a passageway for air to flow from the inlet nozzle to the sample substrate receiving area; a charging device having an electrode; a high voltage power source coupled to the charging device that causes the electrode of the charging device to create an electric field that charges particles in the air flowing past the electrode; and a pumping arrangement that pulls air into the collector housing through the inlet nozzle, draws the air towards the sample substrate receiving area through the passageway, and evacuates air drawn into the collector housing; wherein, in use, a sample substrate having a collection surface is positionable in the sample substrate receiving area and the collection surface of the sample substrate is held at one of: a neutral charge and an opposite charge, relative to the electric field created by the charging device; and particulates are collectable on the collection surface of the sample substrate by containing the aerosol in a small area within the passageway and by forcing the air to flow near the collection surface of the sample substrate such that the charged particles are attracted to the collection surface; characterised in that the electrode of the charging device passes through the inlet tube and extends within the passageway at an angle such that the tip of the electrode is generally centered in the passageway; and the small area electrostatic aerosol collector further comprises a collector seal that isolates a region of the collection surface of the sample substrate oriented with respect to the end of the inlet tube for receiving particulates so that a collection area is isolated during sample collection. a collector housing; an inlet nozzle that extends from the collector housing to provide an inlet for air to flow from outside of the collector housing to the inside of the collector housing; a sample substrate receiving area within the collector housing; an inlet tube coupled to the inlet nozzle and defining a passageway for air to flow from the inlet nozzle to the sample substrate receiving area; a charging device having an electrode; a high voltage power source coupled to the charging device that causes the electrode of the charging device to create an electric field that charges particles in the air flowing past the electrode; and a pumping arrangement that pulls air into the collector housing through the inlet nozzle, draws the air towards the sample substrate receiving area through the passageway, and evacuates air drawn into the collector housing; wherein, in use, a sample substrate having a collection surface is positionable in the sample substrate receiving area and the collection surface of the sample substrate is held at one of: a neutral charge and an opposite charge, relative to the electric field created by the charging device; and particulates are collectable on the collection surface of the sample substrate by containing the aerosol in a small area within the passageway and by forcing the air to flow near the collection surface of the sample substrate such that the charged particles are attracted to the collection surface; characterised in that the electrode of the charging device passes through the inlet tube and extends within the passageway at an angle such that the tip of the electrode is generally centered in the passageway; and the small area electrostatic aerosol collector further comprises a collector seal that isolates a region of the collection surface of the sample substrate oriented with respect to the end of the inlet tube for receiving particulates so that a collection area is isolated during sample collection.