ASTM E1370-96

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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Designation: E 1370 – 96
Standard Guide for
Air Sampling Strategies for Worker and Workplace
Protection
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1370; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4.2.1 Limitations of cost, space, power requirements, equip-
ment, analytical methods, and personnel requirements result in
1.1 To provide criteria to be used in defining air sampling
an optimum strategy for each purpose.
strategies for workplace health and safety monitoring or
4.2.2 A strategy designed to satisfy multiple purposes must
evaluation, such as: duration, frequency, number, location,
be a compromise among several alternatives, and will not be
method, equipment, and timing.
optimum for any one purpose.
1.2 When sampling is done to determine if the conditions in
4.2.3 The purpose or purposes of sampling should be
the workplace are in compliance with regulations of the U.S.
explicitly stated before a sampling strategy is selected. Good
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), many
practice, legal requirements, cost of the sampling program, and
of these criteria, for specific hazardous substances, are stated in
the usefulness of the results may be markedly different for
29 CFR 1910.
different purposes of sampling.
2. Referenced Documents
4.3 This guide will not aid in the evaluation of air sampling
data.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.4 This guide is intended for those who are preparing to
D 1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
evaluate the work environment of a location by air sampling, or
Atmospheres
who wish to obtain an understanding of what information can
E 1542 Terminology Relating to Occupational Health and
be obtained by air sampling.
Safety
4.5 This work was commissioned by the committee on
2.2 Other Documents:
Occupational Health and Safety because there was no docu-
29 CFR 1910
ment available that drew together in one place the many
3. Terminology
diverse pieces of information about air sampling covered
within it. This guide cannot be used as a stand-alone document
3.1 For definitions of terms relating to occupational health
to evaluate any given air borne contaminant.
and safety, see Terminology E 1542.
3.2 For definitions of terms relating to atmospheric sam-
5. Sampling—General
pling and analysis, see Terminology D 1356.
5.1 Air sampling results are one of many sources of infor-
4. Significance and Use
mation about health and safety of conditions in a workplace.
Air sampling should not be used to the exclusion of other
4.1 To describe standard approaches used to determine air
information.
sampling strategies before any actual air sampling occurs.
5.2 Bioassay and biomonitoring results, clinical observa-
4.2 For the majority of the purposes for sampling, and for
tions, quality and process control data, and material balance
the majority of the materials sampled, air sampling strategies
studies, where applicable, should always be used in conjunc-
are matters of choice. Air sampling in the workplace may be
tion with air sampling data.
done for single or multiple purposes. Conflicts arise when a
5.3 Qualitative agreement among separately obtained
single air sampling strategy is expected to satisfy multiple
sources of information should increase confidence in the
purposes.
interpretation of workplace hazard assessments. Disagreement
should be cause for concern, and provoke efforts to find out
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-22 on Sampling and
why the disagreement occurred.
Analysis of Atmospheres and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.04
on Workplace Atmospheres.
6. Purposes of Sampling
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1996. Published March 1996. Originally
published as E 1370 – 90. Last previous edition E 1370 – 90.
6.1 Risk Evaluation—To estimate the expected, or maxi-
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
3 mum, or both contaminant concentrations in the workplace.
Code of Federal Regulations, available from U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402. The information obtained is used to recommend worker
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1370
protection requirements and to assess the probability of sensi- 7.1.2 The direction of air movement determines areas of
tization or hypersensitivity reactions. heaviest exposure downwind, and may prevent any exposure
6.2 Exposure Estimation—To measure the actual concentra- upwind. Variation in wind direction determines the total area
tions of contaminant to which one particular worker is ex- exposed. Where there is slow air movement, eddy currents, or
posed. The concentrations measured may or may not be air recirculation, there may be an increase in air concentration
hazardous. In many cases, it is sufficient to show that any with time.
exposures are less than half of applicable limits or standards. 7.1.3 Contaminants may be lost in a variety of sinks.
6.3 Exposure Documentation—To provide the data base Aerosol particles are subject to gravitational settling; vapor
necessary for epidemiological studies, when the existence of a contaminants can condense on surfaces or aerosol particles;
health hazard is postulated. It is similar to exposure estimation, gases can be adsorbed on various surface and particles; and all
but is focused more on job categories or job titles, rather than can react with each other, surfaces, or normal air components.
on an individual worker, and requires the use of instruments 7.1.4 Movement of personnel and equipment can change
and methods that minimize the likelihood of obtaining results local air flow patterns significantly. Movement tends to in-
that are below the limits of detection. crease the number and size of eddy currents present, to
6.4 Selection of Engineering Controls— To determine, for resuspend settled aerosols, and to deflect contaminants away
contaminants that are not totally contained, the collection or from local exhaust ventilation, such as hoods.
capture efficiencies of control devices necessary to bring 7.1.5 The rate and velocity of contaminant evolution also
specific contaminant concentrations below applicable limits at affects local air movement. Large or high velocity emissions
specific locations. tend to overwhelm local airflow, while small or low velocity
6.5 Evaluation of Engineering Controls— To measure the emissions have much less effect. Emission sources of high
quantities of contaminants passing or escaping from a control concentration, or with compositions or temperatures, or both,
device due to leaks, wear, damage, inadequate maintenance, that differ greatly from the surrounding air, may resist mixing
overloading, or accidents. with the air for considerable times and distances downwind.
6.6 Selection of Personal Protective Equipment—To deter- 7.1.6 Distance from the emission source is very important.
mine the protection factor required for personal protective Contaminants usually become more dilute with distance.
equipment in order for a worker to inhabit a contaminated or Samples taken outdoors usually show more variation with
potentially contaminated area for a specific period of time. distance than those taken indoors due to greater variations in
6.7 Selection of Bioassay or Biomonitoring Procedures, or air temperature, air pressure, wind speed, wind direction, and
Both—To determine the applicability of bioassay methods that precipitation washout. Outdoor samples can also be distributed
estimate an individual’s total dose or body burden of a material and diluted over a much greater range of vertical and horizontal
and biomonitoring methods that estimate an individual’s rate of distance. Even indoor concentrations may vary more than two
exposure or rate of uptake of a material. orders of magnitude between the floor and ceiling, or between
6.8 Compliance with Regulations and Standards—To obtain two locations more than a meter apart in any direction (1, 2).
the measurements required to satisfy legal requirements, or to Samples taken from within the open face of local exhaust
determine if exposures in the workplace are below legal limits. ventilation, with the sample inlet facing into the moving air,
6.9 Source Identification—To single out the contribution of will almost always indicate higher concentrations than the
each of many potential sources of contamination, based on its same type of sample taken at or beyond the edge of the opening
unique characteristics, such as emission fluctuations, wind (3).
direction and variability, dispersion conditions, and the pres- 7.2 It is essential that air samples be taken as close as
ence or absence of distinct trace materials. possible to the location of interest, as determined by the
6.10 Process Control—To ensure that the process being purpose of sampling.
monitored is proceeding according to design, that valuable 7.2.1 Samples taken for the purpose of selection of engi-
materials are not being lost through leaks or side reactions, and neering controls, evaluation of engineering controls, source
that only those effluents expected, in the quantities expected, identification, or process control should usually be taken
are being produced. This type of sampling can be used to detect downwind of the source, and as close to it as possible.
and halt process changes before hazardous air concentrations 7.2.2 Samples taken for the purpose of risk evaluation,
are produced. exposure estimation, selection of personal protective equip-
6.11 Investigation of Complaints—To resolve doubts and ment, selection of bioassay or biomonitoring procedures, and
document the seriousness of reported hazardous releases. investigation of complaints should be taken as close as possible
to the breathing zone of the person affected.
7. Where to Sample
7.2.3 Where a worker’s activities influence the emission of
7.1 Some of the factors affecting contaminant air concen-
a contaminant, breathing zone samples will usually indicate
trations include the velocity and direction of air movement,
concentrations up to one order of magnitude higher than nearby
contaminant sinks, movement of personnel and equipment,
fixed location samples (2, 4).
source strength, and distance from the source. Small differ-
7.2.4 If the worker’s activities do not influence emission,
ences in location can have major effects.
7.1.1 The volume of air movement affects dilution of the
source. The more air that passes the source per unit of time, the 4
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
lower the plume concentration is likely to be. this standard.
E 1370
then breathing zone samples will usually indicate concentra- 9.2.4 Detector Tubes—designed for taking very short term
tions the same as, or lower than, nearby fixed location samplers samples.
(1). The worker’s exposure will usually be lower than the
9.2.5 Personal Sampling Pumps—designed for long term
concentration indicated by fixed location samplers, if the
sampling.
worker is in and out of the contaminated area and does not
NOTE 1—Some sampling instruments are capable of measuring more
affect emissions.
than one contaminant simultaneously.
7.2.5 When personal breathing zone samples are appropri-
9.3 Analytical methods affect strategy by placing limits on
ate but do not provide adequate sensitivity, fixed or portable
minimum and maximum collection durations for each sample.
samplers with higher sensitivities must be used and should be
Also, multiple contaminants may have to be sampled sepa-
placed at about breathing height above the ground or floor.
rately, on different collection media. Even for materials
7.3 Alarm samplers are a special case. They may produce
sampled in the same medium, separate samples may be
false as well as true alarms.
necessary, due to different methods of desorption and extrac-
7.3.1 Use of a large number of alarm samplers should be
tion and different instrument conditions in the analytical
avoided. When used, they must be placed where there is a high
laboratory.
probability they will warn personnel of a contaminant or
9.4 The purpose of sampling will profoundly affect how
control equipment failure that results in hazardous air concen-
sampling is approached.
trations.
7.3.2 A good practice is to place indoor alarm samplers in or 9.4.1 Selection and evaluation of engineering controls, se-
lection of respiratory protection or bioassay/biomonitoring
very near exhaust ventilation. They may not sample the highest
concentrations at this location, but they are more likely to be techniques, or both, source identification, and process control
exposed to some increase in concentration if a release occurs samples are not usually compared to health standards.
anywhere in the room. 9.4.2 Risk evaluation, exposure estimation, exposure docu-
7.3.3 Outdoor alarm samplers should be placed far enough
mentation, and compliance samples are usually compared to
downwind of potential sources to allow mixing eddies to health standards, such as the OEL (Occupational Exposure
diffuse the plume enough to detect some concentration at the
Limit), PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) or TLV (Threshold
sampler. Limit Value), and are usually best collected with personal
7.4 Samples taken for the purpose of compliance should use
samplers.
the rules of good practice to the maximum extent possible,
while complying with all specific requirements of the regula- 10. When to Sample
tions. The user may also sample in additional locations, with
10.1 Air sampling should be done when required by law or
additional types of samplers, or with additional analytical
regulation.
methods.
10.2 Air sampling should be done when there is a probabil-
ity that any individual will be exposed to significant airborne
8. What to Sample
concentrations of a hazardous material, and when there is an
8.1 For most purposes of sampling, the contaminant of
analytical method of determining the quantity of the hazardous
concern should be sampled.
material on a sampling media.
8.2 The number and types of analytical methods available
10.3 The following five considerations are important in
will determine the results that can be obtained.
deciding when to sample.
8.3 In some cases, such as source identification, selection of
10.3.1 Type of Operation—Most actual operations generate
engineering controls, and evaluation of engineering controls, a
conditions that are combinations of two or thre
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