THE APPLICATION OF A VALIDATION PROTOCOL TO A COLORIMETRIC DIFFUSIVE SAMPLER

A validation protocol has been developed by the Comite Europeen de Nor malisation (CEN) in order to provide a standard evaluation procedure f or the many new and existing diffusive sampling systems available for determination of gases or vapours in workplace atmospheres. This study reports the application of that protocol to a commercially available colorimetric diffusive sampling device for acetone. The chosen samplin g system was subjected to a series of standard experiments outlined in the CEN protocol to determine the effects of face velocity, exposure time, pollutant concentration, air temperature and relative humidity o n sampler performance. Additional non-standard experiments were also c arried out to determine the effects of periods of zero pollutant conce ntration during sampling. The results of both standard and non-standar d experiments have been used to calculate figures for the bias of the sampling method and its overall relative uncertainty. Overall, it was concluded that, with some modifications, the CEN protocol can be succe ssfully applied to validating this type of colorimetric diffusive samp ling device.