EVALUATION OF A DIFFUSIVE SAMPLER FOR AIR SAMPLING OF MONOTERPENES

A diffusive sampler for the assessment of exposure to terpenes was validated by laboratory experiments and field tests. The uptake rate for alpha-pinene was calculated to be 11.4 ml min(-1). No statistically significant effects of relative humidity, exposure time, concentration of alpha-pinene or sorbent were found on performing an eight run fractional factorial design. The correlation between pumped sampling and diffusive sampling in a saw mill was good (correlation coefficient = 0.997). No effects of back-diffusion could be shown. The uptake rate was constant over the air speed range 0.05-0.6 m s(-1) and the monoterpenes alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and Delta 3-carene could be sampled simultaneously. The sampler should be analysed within 14 d after the exposure assessment.