Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring

Overview
Occupational Sampling and Biological
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3
Exposure Measurement Monitoring
Limits (OELs) of Airborne
Contaminants

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Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Sampling and Measurement of
Airborne Contaminants

Personal Sampling
Direct Reading and Gravimetric
Stain Tube Detectors
Instruments Analysis for Solid
Particles

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Direct Reading Instruments
• Direct Reading Instruments may be used to
measure the concentration of various
chemicals in the air.
• Allows continuous monitoring of the
surroundings and can be activated if levels rise
above pre-set values.

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Direct Reading Instruments
• Techniques used such as:
Chemical – experiments involving colour change,
qualitative analysis
Electrical – detection using electrochemical
processes
Physical – based on absorption of radiation
(ultraviolet and infrared) in proportion to the
concentration of the contaminant.

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Direct Reading Instruments
• Example : Photoionisation Detector (PID),
which uses ultraviolet radiation to ionise
contaminant for detection and measurement.

PID Credits : PID Working Principles

http://www.envcoglobal.com/files/MO-RAE- Credits :
MiniRAE-Lite-L.jpg http://www.wermac.org/safety/saf_img/pid_working.png

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Direct Reading Instruments
Advantages Disadvantages
• Some maybe used to continuously • Can be expensive
monitor the air for the given substance. • Need a competent technician to
• Some are specific to a given substance. operate the equipment
• Give an immediate (or nearly • Need to be calibrated correctly to
immediate) reading of a contaminant ensure accurate measurement
concentration. • Can be influenced by mixtures of
• Very useful for identifying periods of other substances
peak concentrations during a work
shift.
• Many instruments can be connected to
a chart recorder, data logger or warning
device, so they not need constant
attention.

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Stain Tube Detectors
• A device that is used to
measure toxic
substances in the air.
• How it works:
 Drawing a fixed volume
of air over a chemical
reagent, the
contamination will react
with the reagent and Image Credits :
http://www.komyokk.co.jp/kweb/pages/img/
produce a colour change. kenchikanzu_1.jpg

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Stain Tube Detectors
Limitations
• Rate of flow of air is vital, incorrectly broken ends/leak in tube may lead to
inaccurate results.
• Sample volume of air has to be accurate, some stain tube detectors require
stroking to draw air into the equipment. Vital to record number of strokes to
validate volume of air being sampled.
• Possibility of cross-sensitivity of tube reagents to other substances. Check
manufacturing instructions.
• Difference in temperature/pressure may affect results, most tube detectors
operate at 20°C.
• Shelf -life of stain tube detectors.
• Hand-operated systems are capable of only single “grab” sample.
Further Reading:
http://www.equipcoservices.com/support/tutorials/introduction-to-tube-detection/
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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles
• MDHS Guidance Note 14 explains the general
principles and methods of sampling and analyzing
both respirable and inhalable dust (recap Unit IB1).
• Can be done via background sampling (fixed point
or static) or personal sampling (fixed to worker).
• Personal sampling provides a more accurate reading
to how much dust the worker is exposed to.

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles
General principle of sampling dust:
 Contaminated air is drawn through a filter held inside a
sampler (sampling head) for a period of time.
 The filter is weighed both before and after sampling, to
obtain weight of filtrate / dust.
 Weight of dust is used to calculate dust concentration in
air (mg.m¯³) using the formula:

Weight of filtrate in mg / Total volume of air sampled in m³

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles
Equipment for sampling for solid particles usually
consists of the following components:
1. Air pump : to draw air samples into the sampler, should
be capable of drawing air at a steady fixed rate for 4-8
hours at 2.0 litres/min.
2. Hose : connecting from air pump to sampler.
3. Sampler : filter that is clipped closed to the worker’s
breathing zone, possibly near the collar bone.
4. Flow-meter : to indicate the flow-rate before and after
use.
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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles
Inhalable Dust Sampling Head Cyclone Respirable Sampler

Image Credits : Image Credits :

http://image.slidesharecdn.com/particulateseminar-120423074931- http://www.nickelconsortia.eu/assets/files/library/Guidances/IOM%
phpapp01/95/particulate-seminar-28-728.jpg?cb=1335167764 20Report%201_inhalation%20and%20respirably%20monitoring%20g
uidance%20for%20Ni_March%202012.pdf

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles

Final Checks
Post Weighing
the Filter
Flow
Calibration

Loading
Cassette

Preparing
Sampler
for Use

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles
Sampling and Analysis for
Asbestos
• The method of analysis is
different as it uses phase
contrast microscopy
(PCM) which allows the
number of fibres in the
air to be calculated
Cowled Head Sampler
Image Credits :
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/pdfs/mdhs59-2.pdf

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles
Sampling and Analysis for
Asbestos
• The method of analysis is
different as it uses the
filter and subject it to
phase contrast microscopy
(PCM) which allows the
number of fibres in the air
to be calculated Image Credits :
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/pdfs/mdhs59-2.pdf

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis
For Solid Particles
• PCM is used to count the
number of asbestos fibres
collected on the filter.
• Countable asbestos fibres
are defined as more than
5 microns in length, width
less than 3 microns, and a
Asbestos under PCM length to width ratio of
Image Credits :
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7601/16237536834_acdd3d478a_b.jpg more than 3:1.
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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling For Gases / Vapours
• According to UK MDHS Guide 70, there are two
main ways that airborne contaminants can be
sampled:
o Passive (Diffusion) Sampling, which uses natural air
movement to diffuse into a chamber containing a sorbent
material.
Sorbent : a substance that has the property to collect molecules of
another substance onto its surface by adsorption
o Active (Mechanical) Sampling, which uses a pump to
provide airflow through a sampling/analysing device.

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling For Gases / Vapours
Passive Device
• Uses a sorbent to sample
air concentrations for
contaminants.
• At the end of the
sampling period, sorbent
material is removed and
amount of gas vapour Passive Air Sampler
collected will be Image Credits :
https://www.skcinc.com/catalog/images/prod
analysed. uct_images2/500-100_callouts.jpg

Man using Passive Air Sampling Device

Image Credits :
http://miningsh.arizona.edu/sites/miningsh.ari
zona.edu/files/air%20sampling.jpg

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling For Gases / Vapours
Active Device
• Uses a pump to draw air
samples through the
sorbent.
Pump Activated Charcoal Sampling Tube • At the end of the sampling
Image Credits : Image Credits :
http://www.sisweb.com/art/resins/ http://www.skcinc.com/catalog/images/
period, sorbent material is
pump.gif M-TubesSolvent.jpg
removed and amount of gas
vapour collected will be
analysed.
Midget Impinger with Pump
Image Credits :
https://www.skcinc.com/catalog/images/
product_images2/225-36-1%20Impinger_
Pump.JPG

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Personal Sampling For Gases / Vapours
Analysis of Vapour
• Vapours collected on sorbent samplers can be
extracted using a variety of methods such as:
Gas chromatography
Infrared spectroscopy
• Allows concentration of contaminants to be
calculated, with knowledge of collection
parameter such as flow rate and collection
time.
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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Biological Monitoring
Biological Monitoring
• Measurement and assessment of workplace agents
or their metabolites such as substances formed
when the body converts the chemical that is being
absorbed.
• Complements air monitoring to evaluate the risks
posed to workers due to exposure of chemical
agents.
• Involves analysis of blood, urine or breath samples

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Biological Monitoring
Uses of Biological Monitoring
• Absorption through skin contact or ingestion rather
than inhalation, to complement air monitoring.
• Monitoring of working environment is difficult, e.g.
outdoors.
• PPE is used as a significant control to exposure.
• Example:
 Detection of lead in the blood due to exposure which
could potentially cause lead poisoning.
 Mandeline acid in urine as an indicator of styrene
exposure.
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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Biological Monitoring
Advantages Disadvantages
• To demonstrate effectiveness • Blood sampling requires a
of PPE. physician or nurse.
• To demonstrate effectiveness • Measurements relate to
of control measures. individuals , so
• Allows assessment of confidentiality and data
multiple routes of entry. protection issues need to
• Identify what is being be addressed.
absorbed by the body. • Individual may suffer
• Gives assurance to workers adverse effects although
that their individual exposure concentrations are below
is being monitored. published standards.
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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Biological Monitoring
Biological Monitoring Guidance Values (BGMVs)
• ILO CoP states that:
 Evaluation should be based on the results from a
group of workers to a given level of the harmful
substance, in order to offset the effect of
individual biological variability.
 Any workers with exceeding limits should
undergo further biological and medical
investigations.
Further Reading / Reference :
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/eh40.pdf

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 Unit IB4 : Monitoring and Measuring
Biological Monitoring
Biological Monitoring Guidance Values (BGMVs)
• BMGVs are non-statutory, any biological
monitoring undertaken must be conducted on
a voluntary basis.
• Not to be used as an alternative or
replacement for OELs and airborne monitoring
routine.

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