A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Development, characterization, and testing of a personal passive sampler for measuring inhalation exposure to gaseous elemental mercury
Highlights Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) inhalation remains an occupational exposure concern. New personal passive sampler has low detection limit, high precision and accuracy. Mercury is quantified using a total mercury analyzer. A limit of quantification below 25 ng/m3 is achievable over 8-hour deployments. Sampler is suitable across a range of regulatory thresholds for GEM concentrations.
Abstract Inhalation of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) is an occupational exposure concern for workers handling elemental mercury or mercury-containing waste. GEM is also often present near historically mercury-contaminated sites, potentially resulting in low-level, chronic exposure of the wider population. Here we introduce a passive sampler for personal GEM monitoring which combines a radial porous diffusive barrier with an activated carbon sorbent. A total mercury analyzer is used to quantify GEM sorbed to the carbon by thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. A sampling rate of 0.070 m3/day was determined by calibrating the sampler at low and high concentrations. Deployments lasting 8 h result in limits of quantification well below 200 ng/m3. The sampler has a measurement range of at least four orders of magnitude. Derived air concentrations were not statistically significantly different from those obtained by active air sampling but were more precise than those obtained using a personal pump. If properly stored, the sampler maintains low blank levels in high GEM environments. Affordability, sturdiness, simplicity, and the wide availability of total mercury analyzers make this sampler highly suited for monitoring GEM inhalation exposure, including in developing countries.
Development, characterization, and testing of a personal passive sampler for measuring inhalation exposure to gaseous elemental mercury
Highlights Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) inhalation remains an occupational exposure concern. New personal passive sampler has low detection limit, high precision and accuracy. Mercury is quantified using a total mercury analyzer. A limit of quantification below 25 ng/m3 is achievable over 8-hour deployments. Sampler is suitable across a range of regulatory thresholds for GEM concentrations.
Abstract Inhalation of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) is an occupational exposure concern for workers handling elemental mercury or mercury-containing waste. GEM is also often present near historically mercury-contaminated sites, potentially resulting in low-level, chronic exposure of the wider population. Here we introduce a passive sampler for personal GEM monitoring which combines a radial porous diffusive barrier with an activated carbon sorbent. A total mercury analyzer is used to quantify GEM sorbed to the carbon by thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. A sampling rate of 0.070 m3/day was determined by calibrating the sampler at low and high concentrations. Deployments lasting 8 h result in limits of quantification well below 200 ng/m3. The sampler has a measurement range of at least four orders of magnitude. Derived air concentrations were not statistically significantly different from those obtained by active air sampling but were more precise than those obtained using a personal pump. If properly stored, the sampler maintains low blank levels in high GEM environments. Affordability, sturdiness, simplicity, and the wide availability of total mercury analyzers make this sampler highly suited for monitoring GEM inhalation exposure, including in developing countries.
Development, characterization, and testing of a personal passive sampler for measuring inhalation exposure to gaseous elemental mercury
Snow, Melanie A. (author) / Feigis, Michelle (author) / Lei, Ying Duan (author) / Mitchell, Carl P.J. (author) / Wania, Frank (author)
2020-11-03
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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