Air Monitoring for Toxic Exposures

HENRY J. McDERMOTT is President and Principal Scientist for H. J. McDermott, Inc., which provides professional consulting services in the general area of occupational safety and health, with emphasis in improving safety, health, and environmental performance; risk-based preventive programs; emergency response; ventilation; litigation support; increasing safety; and health staff efficiency and impact.

• PREFACE xiPART I BACKGROUND CONCEPTS FOR AIR MONITORING 11 Air Monitoring Review 3Air Sampling in Perspective 4Air Sampling Strategy and Plan 6Types of Air Monitoring 7Air Sampling Techniques 10Sample Collection Devices 11Direct-Reading Devices 23Monitoring Records 31Summary 31References 312 Hazards 33Contaminants 36Toxic Effects 46Warning Signs 49Standards and Guidelines for Air Sampling 52Exposure Controls 61Summary 66References 663 Exposure Assessment Strategy and Monitoring Plan 69Exposure Assessment 70Performing an Exposure Assessment 73Exposure Monitoring Plan 88Summary 92References 924 Air Monitoring at Emergencies Including Terrorism Events 93Reasons for Air Sampling 95Terrorism Agents 96Identifying a Terrorism Event 100Planning for Emergencies and Terrorism Events 101Air Sampling for Chemical Agents 104Air Sampling for Biological Agents 120Air Sampling for Radiological Hazards 121Summary 122References 122PART II SAMPLE COLLECTION DEVICE METHODS FOR CHEMICALS 1255 Introduction to Monitoring Using Sample Collection Devices 127Review of the Metric System 128Method Selection 129Pumps and Other Sampling Equipment 130Understanding the Critical Orifice 133Calibration Devices 134Calibration Procedures 137Sample Identification and Chain of Custody 144Documenting Exposure Monitoring 145Performing the Exposure Monitoring 152Laboratory Analysis 153Voiding Samples 155Examples: Calculating Air Monitoring Results 156Comparing Results to Exposure Limits 158Summary 158References 1596 Sample Collection Device Methods for Gases and Vapors 161Active Sample Collection Device Monitoring 161Passive Collectors for Gases and Vapors 192Summary 205References 2057 Sample Collection Device Methods for Aerosols 209Characterizing Aerosols 210Aerosol Collection Mechanisms 215Potential Problems 219Total Aerosol Samplers 220Particle Size-Selective Sampling 224Size-Selective Sampling Devices 227Sampling for Specific Aerosols 243Summary 251References 2518 Concurrent Sampling for Vapors and Aerosols 253Collection Methods for Semivolatile Compounds 254Collection of Multiple Species: Arsenic 260Combustion Processes: Cigarette Smoke Collection 262Collection of Mixtures 263References 264PART III REAL-TIME MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS 2659 Introduction to Monitoring Using Real-Time Methods 267Direct-Reading Instruments 268Colorimetric Systems 293Summary 294References 29410 Instruments with Sensors for Specific Chemicals 295Calibration 298Electrochemical Sensors 298Metal Oxide Sensors 305Other Detection Principles 312Specific Chemicals 313Summary 323References 32311 General Survey Instruments for Gases and Vapors 325Measurement of Explosive Atmospheres: Combustible Gas Indicators 327Interpretation of Measurements of Explosive Atmospheres 336Monitoring for Health Hazard Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds: FIDs and PIDs 338Comparison of FID and PID for General Survey Use 356Interpretation of General Survey Measurements for Health Hazards 356Summary 357References 35812 Instruments for Multiple Specific Gases and Vapors: GC, GC/MS, and IR 359Portable Gas Chromatographs (GCs) 360Infrared (IR) Spectrophotometers 380Summary 395References 39613 Colorimetric Systems for Gas and Vapor Sampling 397Detector Tubes 398Long-Term Colorimetric Tubes and Badges 417Colorimetric Electronic Instruments 421Summary 425References 42614 Real-Time Sampling Methods for Aerosols 427Light-Scattering Monitors 429Particle Mass Measurements with the Piezobalance 439Summary 444References 444PART IV MONITORING FOR AIRBORNE AGENTS OTHER THAN CHEMICALS 44515 Radon Measurements 447Collection Methods for Radon and Its Progeny in Air 449Collection Method for Radon in Water 468Interpretation of Radon Measurements 468Performing Follow-Up Measurements (After Screening) 469Summary 470References 47116 Sampling for Bioaerosols 473Bacteria 476Fungus and Molds 480Viruses 481Other Microorganisms 482Sampling Methods and Strategies 482Direct-Reading Instruments for Bioaerosols 500Interpretation of Results 501Summary 502References 502PART V SPECIFIC SAMPLING APPLICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 50517 Specific Sampling Situations 507Confined Spaces 507Indoor Air Quality Investigations 511Leak Testing: Fugitive Emissions Monitoring 532Welding Fumes 535Carbon Monoxide from Forklifts 537Multiple Solvents in Printing Ink Manufacture 538Summary 539References 53918 Biological Monitoring 541Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs®) 544Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomonitoring 545Method Selection 546Interpretation of Results 556Summary 557References 55819 Surface Sampling Methods 561Wipe Sampling 565Other Surface Sampling Methods 571Methods that Directly Assess Worker Exposure 572Evaluating Sample Results 578Summary 578References 57920 Bulk Sampling Methods 581Purpose 581Sample Collection Strategies 582Containers and Shipping 585Personal Protection 586Bulk Air Samples 586Bulk Samples of Solid or Liquid Chemicals 590Soil Sampling 597Water Sampling 602Summary 613References 613APPENDICES 615Appendix A Air Sampling Procedures 617Dusts, Mists, and Fumes 617Asbestos Fibers 618Active Sampling for Organic Vapors: Adsorption Tubes 619Gases and Vapors: Bubblers and Impingers 622Passive Sampling for Organic Vapors: Badges or Dosimeters 623Respirable Dust Using a Cyclone 624Silica 626Total Dust 627Gasoline and Light Hydrocarbons 628Welding Fumes 629Benzene 632Appendix B Gas and Vapor Calibrations 637Premixed Gases and Vapors in Cylinders 640Static Calibration Mixtures 641Gas Permeation Tubes 645References 650Appendix C Field Calibration of Gas and Vapor Sensors 653Step One: Setting the “Zero” Reading 654Step Two: Span Calibration 655Some Calibration Tools 657Calibrating Liquid Chemical Mixtures 658Appendix D Chemical-Specific Guidelines for Air Sampling and Analysis 659INDEX 681

"...this up-to-date, comprehensive resource will be valuable for the industrial hygienist, emergency responder, and other safety and environmental health professional." (CHOICE, April 2005) "The book should be in the library of every emergency response team as well as conventional sampling groups." (Journal of Hazardous Materials, March 2005)“This second edition offers ready-to-use information for measuring a wide variety of airborne hazardous materials…” (CAB Abstracts, 2005)"…the advances of sampling technology has greatly advanced and this text addresses them." (Industrial Hygiene News, January 2005)"This work is highly recommended for academic, special, and industry libraries serving…all air sampling professionals who perform air monitoring…" (E-STREAMS, February 2005)