Use of Passive Dosimeters for Evaluation of the Quality of Indoor and Outdoor Air

Abstract

This review summarises literature concerned with the application of passive dosimeters used for the estimation of the extent of pollution of outdoor and indoor air by organic compounds. The effect of parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, air movement, and fluctuation in the concentration of the analytes during pre-concentration in two fundamental types of dosimeters (diffusion and permeation devices) is discussed. Examples of the use of commercially available dosimeters for air sampling combined with the simultaneous enrichment of the analytes prior to their final determination by various analytical techniques are given.

Determination of Selected Volatile Organic Compounds in an Indoor Environment

“…The values of the calibration constants were then used to calculate TWA concentrations of the analytes solely on the basis of known time of exposure of the samplers and known (from GC analy sis) amount of the analyte trapped on the sorbent bed during the exposure. The following equation is used for this purpose [11]:…”

Benzene, toluene and xylene measurements in the vicinity of petrol stations (Toulouse – France)

“…The latter allow a sampling in either dynamic or passive mode. The advantage of a passive sampling mode is to provide a direct estimate of the average pollutant concentration corresponding to an acquisition period varying between few hours and few days (Brown [6]; Begerow et al [7]; Kozdron-Zabiegala et al [8]; Baldan et al [9]; Zabiegala et al [10]). …”

Selected concentration techniques for gas chromatographic analysis of environmental samples

“…The passive sampler can be a source of reliable analytical information providing its characteristics are known [33]. The minimal characteristics should include: sampling rate (then analyte concentration in air can be calculated from sampling time and mass of the analyte trapped in the sampler) [36 38]; concentration range of the sampler reliable operation [38]; effect of selected physico-chemical parameters on the enrichment process [37 39]; pre-and post-sampling storage time [37]; analytical precision [36] and comparison with other sampling methods for indoor air quality measurements [40 43].…”

“…Passive samplers are capable of taking samples of gaseous pollutants from the atmosphere at a rate controlled by physical processes such as diffusion through a static air layer or permeation through a membrane [33].…”