Solbu Kasper, Hersson Merete, Thorud Syvert, Lundanes Elsa, Nilsen Terje, Synnes Ole, Ellingsen Dag, Molander Paal
National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
J Environ Monit. 2010 May;12(5):1195-202. doi: 10.1039/b925053k.
Suddenly occurring and time limited chemical exposures caused by unintended incidents might pose a threat to many workers at various work sites. Monitoring of exposure during such occasional incidents is challenging. In this study a compact, low-weight and personal semi-automatic pumped unit for sampling of organic vapor phase compounds from occupational air during sporadic and suddenly occurring incidents has been developed, providing simple activation by the worker potentially subjected to the sudden occurring exposures when a trained occupational hygienist is not available. The sampler encompasses a tube (glass or stainless steel) containing an adsorbent material in combination with a small membrane pump, where the adsorbent is capped at both ends by gas tight solenoid valves. The sampler is operated by a conventional 9 V battery which tolerates long storage time (at least one year), and is activated by pulling a pin followed by automatic operation and subsequent closing of valves, prior to shipping to a laboratory. The adjustable sampling air flow rate and the sampling time are pre-programmed with a standard setting of 200 mL min(-1) and 30 min, respectively. The average airflow in the time interval 25-30 min compared to average airflow in the interval 2-7 min was 92-95% (n = 6), while the flow rate between-assay precisions (RSD) for six different samplers on three days each were in the range 0.5-3.7%. Incident sampler recoveries of VOCs from a generated VOC atmosphere relative to a validated standard method were between 95 and 102% (+/-4-5%). The valves that seal the sampler adsorbent during storage have been shown to prevent an external VOC atmosphere (500 mg m(-3)) to enter the adsorbent tube, in addition to that the sampler adsorbent is storable for at least one month due to absence of ingress of contaminants from internal parts. The sampler was also suitable for trapping of semi-volatile organophosphates.
意外事件导致的突发且限时的化学物质暴露可能会对不同工作场所的许多工人构成威胁。在这类偶发事件期间进行暴露监测具有挑战性。在本研究中，已开发出一种紧凑、轻便的个人半自动抽气装置，用于在零星和突发事故期间从职业空气中采集有机气相化合物样本，当没有经过培训的职业卫生学家时，该装置能让可能遭受突发暴露的工人进行简单操作来启动。该采样器包括一根装有吸附材料的管子（玻璃或不锈钢材质），并配有一个小型隔膜泵，吸附剂两端由气密电磁阀密封。采样器由常规9V电池供电，电池可耐受较长储存时间（至少一年），在运往实验室之前，通过拔下销子启动，随后自动运行并关闭阀门。可调采样空气流速和采样时间预先设定为标准值，分别为200 mL min⁻¹和30 min。25 - 30分钟时间间隔内的平均气流与2 - 7分钟时间间隔内的平均气流相比为92 - 95%（n = 6），而三天内六个不同采样器的测定间流速精密度（相对标准偏差）在0.5 - 3.7%范围内。相对于经过验证的标准方法，从生成的挥发性有机化合物（VOC）气氛中采集的挥发性有机化合物的事件采样器回收率在95%至102%之间（±4 - 5%）。已证明，在储存期间密封采样器吸附剂的阀门可防止外部挥发性有机化合物气氛（500 mg m⁻³）进入吸附管，此外，由于内部部件没有污染物进入，采样器吸附剂可储存至少一个月。该采样器也适用于捕获半挥发性有机磷酸酯。
