Annals of Occupational Hygiene Advance Access originally published online on April 28, 2008
Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2008 52(4):239-247; doi:10.1093/annhyg/men014
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GABIE and Perkin Elmer Passive Sampler Performance under Fluctuating Concentration Conditions
Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurite (INRS), 50 avenue de Bourgogne, BP27, 54500 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33 (0)383 502 025; fax: +33 (0)383 502 060; e-mail: eddy.langlois{at}inrs.fr
Passive sampling is an approved and accurate method for the assessment of organic compound exposure over long sampling time. This method could be very convenient for the short-time exposure assessment, but passive samplers have to be validated for this use. In this article, the behaviour of two commercial passive samplers (GABIE and Perkin Elmer) under fluctuant concentration conditions is studied. Artificial atmospheres were produced in the laboratory and passive samplers were exposed to different concentration profiles. Both theoretical and experimental results detailed in the paper underline the capability of these two samplers to assess pollutant exposure either when the concentration is unsteady or when the sampling time is short. Then, a suitable sampling strategy is proposed for the assessment of short-term exposure, based on the association of a direct reading photoionization device and passive sampler.
Keywords: exposure assessment fluctuating concentration passive sampling peak exposure short-term exposure
Received August 13, 2007; in final form March 3, 2008