ASTM E1370-96(2002)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:E1370–96 (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Guide for
Air Sampling Strategies for Worker and Workplace
Protection
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1370; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 For the majority of the purposes for sampling, and for
the majority of the materials sampled, air sampling strategies
1.1 To provide criteria to be used in defining air sampling
are matters of choice. Air sampling in the workplace may be
strategies for workplace health and safety monitoring or
done for single or multiple purposes. Conflicts arise when a
evaluation, such as: duration, frequency, number, location,
single air sampling strategy is expected to satisfy multiple
method, equipment, and timing.
purposes.
1.2 Whensamplingisdonetodetermineiftheconditionsin
4.2.1 Limitationsofcost,space,powerrequirements,equip-
the workplace are in compliance with regulations of the U.S.
ment, analytical methods, and personnel requirements result in
OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA),many
an optimum strategy for each purpose.
ofthesecriteria,forspecifichazardoussubstances,arestatedin
4.2.2 Astrategy designed to satisfy multiple purposes must
29 CFR 1910.
be a compromise among several alternatives, and will not be
2. Referenced Documents optimum for any one purpose.
4.2.3 The purpose or purposes of sampling should be
2.1 ASTM Standards:
explicitly stated before a sampling strategy is selected. Good
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling andAnalysis of
practice,legalrequirements,costofthesamplingprogram,and
Atmospheres
the usefulness of the results may be markedly different for
E1542 Terminology Relating to Occupational Health and
different purposes of sampling.
Safety
4.3 This guide will not aid in the evaluation of air sampling
2.2 Other Documents:
data.
29 CFR 1910
4.4 This guide is intended for those who are preparing to
3. Terminology
evaluatetheworkenvironmentofalocationbyairsampling,or
who wish to obtain an understanding of what information can
3.1 For definitions of terms relating to occupational health
be obtained by air sampling.
and safety, see Terminology E1542.
4.5 This work was commissioned by the committee on
3.2 For definitions of terms relating to atmospheric sam-
Occupational Health and Safety because there was no docu-
pling and analysis, see Terminology D1356.
ment available that drew together in one place the many
4. Significance and Use
diverse pieces of information about air sampling covered
withinit.Thisguidecannotbeusedasastand-alonedocument
4.1 To describe standard approaches used to determine air
to evaluate any given air borne contaminant.
sampling strategies before any actual air sampling occurs.
5. Sampling—General
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality 5.1 Air sampling results are one of many sources of infor-
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD22.04onWorkplaceAtmospheres.
mation about health and safety of conditions in a workplace.
Current edition approved April 10, 2002. Published March 1996. Originally
Air sampling should not be used to the exclusion of other
published as E1370–90. Last previous edition E1370–90.
information.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.2 Bioassay and biomonitoring results, clinical observa-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
tions, quality and process control data, and material balance
the ASTM website.
3 studies, where applicable, should always be used in conjunc-
Code of Federal Regulations, available from U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402. tion with air sampling data.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E1370–96 (2002)
5.3 Qualitative agreement among separately obtained 7. Where to Sample
sources of information should increase confidence in the
7.1 Some of the factors affecting contaminant air concen-
interpretation of workplace hazard assessments. Disagreement
trations include the velocity and direction of air movement,
should be cause for concern, and provoke efforts to find out
contaminant sinks, movement of personnel and equipment,
why the disagreement occurred.
source strength, and distance from the source. Small differ-
ences in location can have major effects.
6. Purposes of Sampling
7.1.1 The volume of air movement affects dilution of the
6.1 Risk Evaluation—To estimate the expected, or maxi-
source.Themoreairthatpassesthesourceperunitoftime,the
mum, or both contaminant concentrations in the workplace.
lower the plume concentration is likely to be.
The information obtained is used to recommend worker
7.1.2 The direction of air movement determines areas of
protection requirements and to assess the probability of sensi-
heaviest exposure downwind, and may prevent any exposure
tization or hypersensitivity reactions.
upwind. Variation in wind direction determines the total area
6.2 Exposure Estimation—Tomeasuretheactualconcentra-
exposed. Where there is slow air movement, eddy currents, or
tions of contaminant to which one particular worker is ex-
air recirculation, there may be an increase in air concentration
posed. The concentrations measured may or may not be
with time.
hazardous. In many cases, it is sufficient to show that any
7.1.3 Contaminants may be lost in a variety of sinks.
exposures are less than half of applicable limits or standards.
Aerosol particles are subject to gravitational settling; vapor
6.3 Exposure Documentation—To provide the data base
contaminants can condense on surfaces or aerosol particles;
necessary for epidemiological studies, when the existence of a
gases can be adsorbed on various surface and particles; and all
healthhazardispostulated.Itissimilartoexposureestimation,
can react with each other, surfaces, or normal air components.
but is focused more on job categories or job titles, rather than
7.1.4 Movement of personnel and equipment can change
on an individual worker, and requires the use of instruments
local air flow patterns significantly. Movement tends to in-
and methods that minimize the likelihood of obtaining results
crease the number and size of eddy currents present, to
that are below the limits of detection.
resuspend settled aerosols, and to deflect contaminants away
6.4 Selection of Engineering Controls— To determine, for
from local exhaust ventilation, such as hoods.
contaminants that are not totally contained, the collection or
7.1.5 The rate and velocity of contaminant evolution also
capture efficiencies of control devices necessary to bring
affects local air movement. Large or high velocity emissions
specific contaminant concentrations below applicable limits at
tend to overwhelm local airflow, while small or low velocity
specific locations.
emissions have much less effect. Emission sources of high
6.5 Evaluation of Engineering Controls— To measure the
concentration, or with compositions or temperatures, or both,
quantities of contaminants passing or escaping from a control
that differ greatly from the surrounding air, may resist mixing
device due to leaks, wear, damage, inadequate maintenance,
with the air for considerable times and distances downwind.
overloading, or accidents.
7.1.6 Distance from the emission source is very important.
6.6 Selection of Personal Protective Equipment—To deter-
Contaminants usually become more dilute with distance.
mine the protection factor required for personal protective
Samples taken outdoors usually show more variation with
equipment in order for a worker to inhabit a contaminated or
distance than those taken indoors due to greater variations in
potentially contaminated area for a specific period of time.
air temperature, air pressure, wind speed, wind direction, and
6.7 Selection of Bioassay or Biomonitoring Procedures, or
precipitationwashout.Outdoorsamplescanalsobedistributed
Both—To determine the applicability of bioassay methods that
anddilutedoveramuchgreaterrangeofverticalandhorizontal
estimateanindividual’stotaldoseorbodyburdenofamaterial
distance. Even indoor concentrations may vary more than two
andbiomonitoringmethodsthatestimateanindividual’srateof
orders of magnitude between the floor and ceiling, or between
exposure or rate of uptake of a material.
two locations more than a meter apart in any direction (1, 2).
6.8 Compliance with Regulations and Standards—Toobtain
Samples taken from within the open face of local exhaust
the measurements required to satisfy legal requirements, or to
ventilation, with the sample inlet facing into the moving air,
determineifexposuresintheworkplacearebelowlegallimits.
will almost always indicate higher concentrations than the
6.9 Source Identification—To single out the contribution of
sametypeofsampletakenatorbeyondtheedgeoftheopening
each of many potential sources of contamination, based on its
(3).
unique characteristics, such as emission fluctuations, wind
7.2 It is essential that air samples be taken as close as
direction and variability, dispersion conditions, and the pres-
possible to the location of interest, as determined by the
ence or absence of distinct trace materials.
purpose of sampling.
6.10 Process Control—To ensure that the process being
7.2.1 Samples taken for the purpose of selection of engi-
monitored is proceeding according to design, that valuable
neering controls, evaluation of engineering controls, source
materialsarenotbeinglostthroughleaksorsidereactions,and
identification, or process control should usually be taken
that only those effluents expected, in the quantities expected,
downwind of the source, and as close to it as possible.
arebeingproduced.Thistypeofsamplingcanbeusedtodetect
and halt process changes before hazardous air concentrations
are produced.
6.11 Investigation of Complaints—To resolve doubts and
Theboldfacenumbersinparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheendof
document the seriousness of reported hazardous releases. this standard.
E1370–96 (2002)
7.2.2 Samples taken for the purpose of risk evaluation, 9. How to Sample
exposure estimation, selection of personal protective equip-
9.1 How samples should be taken depends on the type of
ment, selection of bioassay or biomonitoring procedures, and
sampling instruments available, analytical methods employed,
investigationofcomplaintsshouldbetakenascloseaspossible
and the purpose of sampling. Other factors may also be
to the breathing zone of the person affected.
important.
9.2 Sampling instruments can influence sampling strategy,
7.2.3 Where a worker’s activities influence the emission of
due to their size, space requirements, and mass. For example:
a contaminant, breathing zone samples will usually indicate
9.2.1 Vertical Elutriator—used in cotton dust sampling is
concentrationsuptooneorderofmagnitudehigherthannearby
too large to be placed on the worker.
fixed location samples (2, 4).
9.2.2 A Small Pump and Sample Collector— can be placed
7.2.4 If the worker’s activities do not influence emission,
ontheworker,buttheworkermayobjecttoitsnoiseandbulk.
then breathing zone samples will usually indicate concentra-
9.2.3 Dosimeter Badge—can be placed on the individual,
tionsthesameas,orlowerthan,nearbyfixedlocationsamplers
over the entire shift, with little or no complaint from nor
(1). The worker’s exposure will usually be lower than the
hinderance to the worker.
concentration indicated by fixed location samplers, if the
9.2.4 Detector Tubes—designed for taking very short term
worker is in and out of the contaminated area and does not
samples.
affect emissions.
9.2.5 Personal Sampling Pumps—designed for long term
7.2.5 When personal breathing zone samples are appropri-
sampling.
ate but do not provide adequate sensitivity, fixed or portable
NOTE 1—Some sampling instruments are capable of measuring more
samplers with higher sensitivities must be used and should be
than one contaminant simultaneously.
placed at about breathing height above the ground or floor.
9.3 Analytical methods affect strategy by placing limits on
7.3 Alarm samplers are a special case. They may produce
minimum and maximum collection durations for each sample.
false as well as true alarms.
Also, multiple contaminants may have to be sampled sepa-
7.3.1 Use of a large number of alarm samplers should be
rately, on different collection media. Even for materials
avoided.Whenused,theymustbeplacedwherethereisahigh
sampled in the same medium, separate samples may be
probability they will warn personnel of a contaminant or
necessary, due to different methods of desorption and extrac-
control equipment failure that results in hazardous air concen-
tion and different instrument conditions in the analytical
trations.
laboratory.
9.4 The purpose of sampling will profoundly affect how
7.3.2 Agoodpracticeistoplaceindooralarmsamplersinor
sampling is approached.
verynearexhaustventilation.Theymaynotsamplethehighest
9.4.1 Selection and evaluation of engineering controls, se-
concentrations at this location, but they are more likely to be
lection of respiratory protection or bioassay/biomonitoring
exposed to some increase in concentration if a release occurs
techniques, or both, source identification, and process control
anywhere in the room.
samples are not usually compared to health standards.
7.3.3 Outdoor alarm samplers should be placed far enough
9.4.2 Risk evaluation, exposure estimation, exposure docu-
downwind of potential sources to allow mixing eddies to
mentation, and compliance samples are usually compared to
diffuse the plume enough to detect some concentration at the
health standards, such as the OEL (Occupational Exposure
sampler.
Limit), PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) or TLV (Threshold
7.4 Samplestakenforthepurposeofcomplianceshoulduse
Limit Value), and are usually best collected with personal
the rules of good practice to the maximum extent possible,
samplers.
while complying with all specific requirements of the regula-
tions. The user may also sample in additional locations, with 10. When to Sample
additional types of samplers, or with additional analytical
10.1 Air sampling should be done when required by law or
methods.
regulation.
10.2 Air sampling should be done when there is a probabil-
8. What to Sample
ity that any individual will be exposed to significant airborne
concentrations of a hazardous material, and when ther
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