Chemist Christine Millner AIHce 2011 PDC

On May 14 in Portland, Oregon, Christine Millner will be co-presenting PDC 502 Exposure Assessment Using Whole-Air Sampling Techniques at the American Industrial Hygiene Association Conference AIHce 2011. This PDC is already sold out, but if you’re at the conference come by the CTEH^® booth 1049 and talk to Christine about GC/MS and whole-air sampling analysis. Millner spearheads the CTEH^® Vapor Intrusion services, and utilizes a portable GC/MS on vapor intrusion and source characterization projects. This PDC is a co-presentation with Galson Laboratories.

Exposure Assessment Using Whole-Air Sampling Methods

Introductory Course | 0.67 CM Point/ 0.4 CEU/COC Point Sunday | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Fee: $180/$220 | Limit: 30

Value added: Learn how traditional tube and pump sampling is transitioning to whole-air sampling.

Prerequisites: Basic computation and evaluation techniques.

Learning aids: Participants must bring a scientific calculator and a laptop computer with electronic spreadsheets.

Outcomes: Upon completion, the participant will be able to

• Present the advantages and limitations of whole-air sampling as compared with traditional pump and tube sampling
• Differentiate between GC-MS and GC-FID detection methods
• Choose the proper whole-air technique and sampling configuration
• Use the proper sample collection hygiene to avoid contamination
• Identify the advantages and limitations of helium diffusion canisters over traditional passive samplers
• Determine how OSHA is using whole-air sampling to evaluate exposure assessment

Outline: Understanding advantages and disadvantages of whole-air sampling:

• Differences between whole-air sampling and traditional pump and tube sampling
• Whole-air detection limits
• Whole-air sampling is GC-MS friendly
• Advantages of GC-MS analysis over traditional GC-FID methods
• Accuracy and defensibility: Will whole-air sampling stand up in court?
• Tentively identified compounds (TICs)
• Interferences

When not to use whole-air sampling methods

• What can and cannot be collected and analyzed by whole-air sampling methods
• Different whole-air sampling media and handling
• Choosing the correct whole-air method
• Size of canisters, tedlar bags, helium diffusive samplers
• SUMMA vs. fused silica lined vs. glass canisters

Understanding how whole-air sampling devices are cleaned and certified

• How quickly does a whole-air sampling device need to be used after cleaning?
• The importance of recovery certification
• Field-sampling techniques Making the correct whole-air sampling method choice:
• Grab sampling (STEL/ceiling measurements)
• Critical-orifice sampling (area monitoring)
• Time-integrated sampling (TWA)
• IAQ studies
• 24 hours and longer What does OSHA have to say about whole-air sampling?
• PV 2120 and beyond

Description: Whole-air sampling is a growing alternative to traditional tube and pump sampling in a number of important IH exposure assessment strategies. This PDC will introduce IH’s to the concepts needed to make the transition to whole-air sampling an exciting new experience that will decrease the time involved in sampling, and, at the same time, increase the amount of information obtained from every air sample.

Presenters will show how the combination of stable low detection limits (1 to 5 ppb) universal sampling media, and the power of GC-MS analysis takes the guesswork out of planning sampling protocols — regardless of sampling time. Participants will also learn why whole-air sampling does not depend on cumbersome liquid-extraction techniques, and the time-consuming expense of developing new recovery studies for every new analyte that is added to sampling protocols. A new concept, diffusive whole-air sampling, will also be introduced. Participants will learn how this new sampling technique combines the ease of sampling using a traditional diffusive sampler (badge) with the power of whole-air sampling.

Finally, some studies from OSHA will be presented to evaluate the potential role of whole-air sampling in exposure assessment and compliance strategies. The result is a partially validated sampling method, PV-2120. In the PDC, a discussion of PV-2120, its development, and the possible future role of whole-air sampling from the point of view of OSHA’s Salt Lake Technical Center will be presented.

Instructors: Edward A. Stuber, CIH, Galson Laboratories; Bill Walsh, CIH, Galson Laboratories; Alan Rosner, PhD, CIH, CSP, Clarkson Univeristy; Christine Millner, Center for Environment and Toxicology; George Gruetzmacher, PhD, CIH, CSP, PE, Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory.