Validation of Abcor (NMS) Organic Vapor Dosimeter Under Various Concentrations and Air Velocity Conditions

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Abstract
Two hundred and twenty-five Abcor (NMS) “Gasbadge” Organic Vapor Dosimeters were exposed to 5–340 ppm styrene, 2.6–340 ppm ethyl acrylate and 10 ppm n-butyl acrylate at two air velocity rates (perpendicular to the dosimeter surface) of 0.22 and 0.44 m/sec. An inhalation chamber equipped with dynamic vapor generation and continuous monitoring systems was used to produce the desired concentrations of organic vapors. Desired air velocities were produced by means of two electric fans. The known concentrations of organic vapors within the chamber were used to determine the Dosimeter Sampling Constants (D) for various sampling conditions. D values, which are proportional to sampling rate, did not change significantly within different concentrations as long as the air velocity was constant. However, increase of air velocity from 0.22 to 0.44 m/sec caused statistically significant increases in the sampling rate by 35.5%, 22% and 18% for styrene, ethyl acrylate, and non-butyl acrylate, respectively. Percent recoveries were high (93.4–100.8%) and consistent (SD=2.9–4.6) within a wide range of exposure, i.e. approximately 0.25–15 mg of loading; exposure beyond the minimum and maximum critical loadings caused significant decrease in percent recovery. Gasbadges exposed consecutively to 2 and 10 ppm of ethyl acrylate for seven hours following one hour exposure to 300 ppm, lost 22–24.4% of vapor adsorbed earlier.