In the realm of indoor environmental monitoring, occupational health, and safety, Zefon stands out as the leading manufacturer and supplier of cutting-edge air sampling equipment. At Delta, we proudly offer an extensive selection of Zefon's air sampling equipment and pumps, all meticulously designed to guarantee a clean, non-toxic, and safe working environment for all.
Keep reading this blog to delve deeper into the importance of air sampling.
For many of us, air quality in the workplace may not be a significant concern. However, the reality is that there are environments filled with dust, smoke, and gasses that pose a constant threat to the well-being of those who labor in them. So, how can we navigate this challenging terrain?
What is air sampling and how is it done?
Air sampling is a critical tool that helps us understand the presence of airborne contaminants in our surroundings. Specialized instruments are employed to detect various contaminants, including gasses, vapors, dusts, and fibers in the air.
Air sampling can be performed using specialized equipment such as air sampling pumps, along with an array of sampling media like filters, sorbent tubes, or impingers. The collected samples are then meticulously analyzed in a laboratory to determine the concentration of these substances in the air.
Breathing safely: the critical roles of OELS and PELs
Workplace exposure, often referred to as Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) or Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), represents crucial standards established to safeguard workers from the harmful effects of exposure to hazardous substances at work. These limits specify the maximum concentration of a substance that a worker can be exposed to over a specific time period without experiencing adverse health effects.
However, it is important to be aware these standards vary from one country to another and may be set by government agencies or organizations responsible for occupational health and safety. The specific countries where OELs and PELs are in effect, as well as the agencies responsible for their establishment and enforcement, will differ.
Typically, these exposure limits are expressed in units of parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m³) of air, and they are based on the best available scientific evidence regarding the potential harm a substance can cause to human health. These standards are established and maintained by government agencies, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Safety first
Air sampling is indispensable for ensuring safety and maintaining a high standard of work quality in industries that encounter a high volume of airborne contaminants. This can include a wide range of sectors such as:
Firefighting operations
Chemical manufacturing plants
Construction sites
Coal mining companies
Research laboratories.
Prolonged exposure to harmful contaminants can pose significant health risks to employees, emphasizing the need to maintain a certain standard of air quality to protect their well-being.
So, what are the health risks associated with poor air quality?
Individuals working in close proximity to high concentrations of dangerous contaminants in the air are at risk of suffering both short-term and long-term health consequences.
Short-term health risks may include skin and eye irritation, fatigue, headaches, and nausea. In contrast, the long-term health risks can be far more severe, potentially leading to conditions like cancer, skin sensitization, liver damage, kidney damage, and damage to the central nervous system.
Clearing the air: data collection for safety in the workplace
Air sampling equipment provides industrial and high-exposure companies with the vital air quality data they need to make informed decisions and prioritize the health of their employees. It serves two key purposes:
Determining Contaminant Type: Sampling equipment helps companies identify the types of contaminants present in the air, particularly whether any of the detected contaminants are toxic.
Determining Contaminant Concentrations: Understanding the concentration of contaminants is essential to ensure that the work environment is safe for employees.
Air sampling can be categorized into several approaches, including:
Static Air Sampling: This method extracts samples from the ambient environment, using devices with high flow rates to sample a substantial volume of air rapidly.
Personal Air Sampling: Designed to capture the air around an individual, this method involves wearable sampling equipment placed within a few inches of the person's face.
Active Sampling: Involves drawing air through adsorbent media, such as sorbent tubes, thermal tubes, filters, or impingers, using an air pump.
Passive Air Sampling: Relying on molecular diffusion, this method involves the unassisted movement of gaseous agents onto an adsorbent surface. It's a cost-effective option that doesn't require air pumping.
Whole Air Sampling: This technique collects an entire air sample into a containment vessel, stainless steel container, or glass canister, enabling the direct testing of compounds of interest.
Contaminants in the air can be classified into three key categories:
Chemical
Radiological
Biological contaminants
Chemical contaminants are found in the form of gases, vapors, and particulates. Common examples include nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde, lead, asbestos, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and dust particles (particulate matter). These contaminants are measured through active or passive air sampling.
Radiation monitoring, on the other hand, is focused on detecting non-natural radiation signals exceeding naturally occurring background radiation levels.
Biological air contaminants encompass bacteria, spores, fungi, yeast, microbial toxins, and viruses, among others. Settle or contact plates and Reuter centrifugal samplers that utilize dedicated agar strips are employed to monitor biological contaminants.
To further understand the diversity of contaminants in the air, read on and delve into the specific types:
Gases: These shapeless fluids, present in many workplaces, include exhaust gases, arc-welding gases, and internal combustion gases. Toxic gases pose a health hazard, while even non-toxic gases can be harmful if they hinder oxygen intake.
Vapors: Vapors arise from the evaporation of materials that typically exist in solid or liquid states. Common in industry, these organic solvents, especially those with low boiling points, can enter the body through inhalation and skin absorption.
Dusts: Solid airborne particles measuring between 0.1 to 25 micrometers, dusts are generated through activities like crushing, handling, grinding, or blasting materials. They may be organic or inorganic, such as rock, coal, wood, ore, metal, and grain.
Fumes: Fumes are produced when volatilized solids condense in cool air. These extremely fine particles, often less than 1 picometer in diameter, are common in processes involving molten metal.
Mists: Mists are finely dispersed liquids suspended in the air. They form as vaporized liquids condense back into a liquid state, and these liquid particles become suspended in the air. Examples include oil mists from cutting and grinding, acid mists from electroplating, and spray mists from finishing processes.
Fibers: Long, slender, solid particles with lengths that exceed their diameters, fibers are produced by materials like asbestos, fiberglass, and fibrous talc during processes in construction, mining, demolition, and fabrication.
Zefon, a breath of fresh air in air sampling manufacturing
Zefon's expertise in air sampling and our state-of-the-art equipment play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and well-being of workers across various industries.
Our commitment to monitoring air quality, identifying contaminants, and safeguarding human health underscores our dedication to a cleaner, healthier, and safer work environment along with our proud partnership with Zefon.