Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Field evaluation of a passive personal air sampler for screening of PAH exposure in workplaces
AU - Bohlin, Pernilla
AU - Jones, Kevin C.
AU - Levin, Jan Olof
AU - Lindahl, Roger
AU - Strandberg, Bo
PY - 2010/7/1
Y1 - 2010/7/1
N2 - New sampling methods are needed to simplify and enable frequent monitoring of workers' exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The sampler needs to fulfil some key operational requirements for occupational exposure assessments: (i) be useable as a personal sampler; (ii) work over 8 h exposure time; (iii) sequester PAHs both in gas and particle phase, (iv) yield reliable estimates of air concentrations. Here, a new smaller design of the traditional polyurethane foam (PUF) passive air sampler (PAS) (i.e. a 'mini-PUF') was introduced and assessed against these requirements in sites with elevated PAH concentrations. The exposure times were 2 weeks and 8 hours. The obtained sampling rates (R-values) were not significantly different between gas phase (0.4-3.3 m3 day-1, 0.3-2.3 L min-1) and particle associated PAHs (0.5-1.9 m3 day-1, 0.4-1.3 L min-1). The accuracy in estimating air concentrations was within ±25% from the active sampler for half of the PAHs for the mini-PUF under 8 h exposures. Significant correlations (p < 0.003) were found between personally deployed mini-PUFs and a co-deployed personal active sampling method. This together with the low costs and ease-of-use of the mini-PUF encourage application in exposure assessments.
AB - New sampling methods are needed to simplify and enable frequent monitoring of workers' exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The sampler needs to fulfil some key operational requirements for occupational exposure assessments: (i) be useable as a personal sampler; (ii) work over 8 h exposure time; (iii) sequester PAHs both in gas and particle phase, (iv) yield reliable estimates of air concentrations. Here, a new smaller design of the traditional polyurethane foam (PUF) passive air sampler (PAS) (i.e. a 'mini-PUF') was introduced and assessed against these requirements in sites with elevated PAH concentrations. The exposure times were 2 weeks and 8 hours. The obtained sampling rates (R-values) were not significantly different between gas phase (0.4-3.3 m3 day-1, 0.3-2.3 L min-1) and particle associated PAHs (0.5-1.9 m3 day-1, 0.4-1.3 L min-1). The accuracy in estimating air concentrations was within ±25% from the active sampler for half of the PAHs for the mini-PUF under 8 h exposures. Significant correlations (p < 0.003) were found between personally deployed mini-PUFs and a co-deployed personal active sampling method. This together with the low costs and ease-of-use of the mini-PUF encourage application in exposure assessments.
U2 - 10.1039/c0em00018c
DO - 10.1039/c0em00018c
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20461262
AN - SCOPUS:77954641031
VL - 12
SP - 1437
EP - 1444
JO - Journal of Environmental Monitoring
JF - Journal of Environmental Monitoring
SN - 1464-0325
IS - 7
ER -