NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Physiologic sampler for airborne health hazards.

Yost-MG

NIOSH 1998 Aug; :1-86

20023670

Physiologic sampling offers a potential significant improvement in exposure assessment methods applied in workplaces. A physiologic sampler device continuously adjusts the air-sampling rate in proportional to a worker's inhaled air volume. This study resulted in the development of a new physiologic sampling pump (PSP) for personal air sampling on workers. Laboratory and field evaluations of the PSP conducted for this project demonstrated the flexibility, utility, and application of this new device. This study also evaluated the Rapid Exhaled Gas Analyzer (REBA) as a tool for measuring human breath samples. Ten volatile organic compounds in spiked breath samples were examined for applicability with this device (ethanol, ethylbenzene, n-hexane, methy ethyl ketone, methy tert-butyl ether, m-xylene, 1, 1, 1-trichoroethane, trichloroethylene, and toluene). Detection limits were determined for all compounds and were sufficiently low to indicate that REBA could monitor these solvents at levels appropriate for their BEI (Biologic Exposure Index) as define by the ACGIH biologic monitoring committee. The quantification accuracy was good in many cases, but values were under-predicted for some compounds (n-hexane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane). This finding suggests that further refinement in quantification methods and validation of sampling methods is needed for these compounds.

Physiological-effects; Physiological-factors; Physiological-testing; Airborne-particles; Health-hazards; Hazards; Occupational-hazards; Workplace-monitoring; Work-environment; Air-sampling; Sampling-methods

64-17-5; 100-41-4; 110-54-3; 78-93-3; 79-01-6; 108-88-3

19980824

Final Grant Report

355444

Grant

1998

Grant-Number-R01-OH-003134

OEP

Research Tools and Approaches; Exposure Assessment Methods

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

WA

University of Washington, Seattle, WA