VALIDATION OF THE NEW PASSIVE MONITOR WITHOUT A MEMBRANE IN INDOOR AIR

A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the suitability of activated carbon cloth (ACC) strips for diffusive sampling of volat ile organic compounds in air without using a membrane. Experiments wer e carried out in an environmental chamber and in an indoor air environ ment. The monitors were analyzed qualitatively by liquid extraction an d gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantitatively by gas chrom atography with a flame ionization detector. It was shown that ACC moni tors can provide satisfactory quantitative data for a wide variety of volatile organic compounds in indoor air ranging in concentration from 1 mg/m(3) to 0.02 g/m(3). It was also observed that the absence of a membrane does not affect the linearity of the sampling rate. In additi on, a packaging system has been developed that allows samples to be se nt out and returned to the laboratory for analysis by mail. Recycling, a convenient procedure of exposure, delivery, and return by postal se rvice, as well as simple analysis all show that this passive sampler s ubstantially reduces the cost of monitoring, thus demonstrating its be nefits in the determination of contamination sources within both large industrial sites or any other building where such an analysis may be required.