Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler

Overview

The Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler is designed to accurately measure personal exposures to formaldehyde. With accuracies of at least ± 25%, these devices can be used for OSHA compliance monitoring for either eight-hour PELs or 15-minute STELs. The measuring range of the eight-hour PEL sampler is 0.2 to 2 ppm and the range of the STEL sampler is 0.5 to 6 ppm.

The passive sampler works on a simple yet accurate process. A permeable plastic membrane allows for controlled diffusion of air onto a chemically impregnated paper; no liquid reagents are necessary for sampling. Formaldehyde combines with the reactive media (sodium hydrogen sulphite) on the paper and forms the stable compound formaldehyde bisulfite. The sampler is then sent to an accredited laboratory for chromotropic acid analysis. See link above for analysis instructions.

The Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler is available in two configurations: the PEL Sampler collects formaldehyde at a low rate suitable for full-shift (eight hours) sampling; the STEL sampler collects formaldehyde at a higher rate suitable for 15-minute sampling. The difference between the PEL and STEL models is the size of the membrane; the STEL is 2.7 times larger.

Measuring formaldehyde exposure levels could not be any easier. Simply remove the protective START sticker to expose the membrane and begin sampling. When sampling is complete, seal the sampler with the replacement STOP sticker. Start and stop times, date, and sample ID can also be indicated directly on the sampler. The sampler is small and virtually weightless.

These formaldehyde samplers have been extensively validated to ensure accuracy. There are no known interferences from other substances. Formaldehyde may be accurately measured in the presence of other substances such as phenol, aldehydes, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The shelf-life of an unopened sampler is one year.

For more information on the Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler, contact your local Air-Met office.

Features

Accurately measure personal workplace exposures
- 8-hour PEL: 0.2 to 2 ppm
- 15-minute STEL: 0.5 to 6 ppm
Easy to use — no technical training required
Small and lightweight — weigh less than one ounce
No known interferences from other substances
Suitable for office or industrial sampling
Proven performance — over 500,000 used
Meet OSHA accuracy requirements
Based on chromotropic acid chemistry

Specifications

Detection Range	PEL: 0.2 to 2 ppm STEL: 0.5 to 6 ppm*
Exposure Time	PEL: 8 hr STEL: 15 min
Precision	PEL: 6.1% STEL: 6.3%
Mean Bias	Less than 1%
Temperature Range	15° to 26°C (59° to 78.8°F)
Humidity Range	20 to 80% (at 21° to 24°C)
Minimum Air Flow Across Surface of Sampler	20 cm/sec
Interferences	None known
Shelf-life	1 year
Note: If sampling in an atmosphere containing formalin, see Sampling Formaldehyde from Formalin Using Passive Samplers for field study information. * SKC STEL samplers are designed to measure the formaldehyde STEL in the U.S. of 2 ppm. These samplers do not have the sensitivity required to detect the ACGIH® TLV® Ceiling value of 0.3 ppm with a 15-minute sample.