Sample Preservation and Measurement Techniques for the Determination of Air Quality

CERUTTI, SOLEDAD; GIL, RAÚL; PACHECO, PABLO; GÓMEZ, DARÍO; SMICHOWSKI, PATRICIA; MARTINEZ, LUIS DANTE

The Quality of Air

Elsevier

Año: 2016; p. 233 - 263

Air sampling as the first step in the chain of environmental data acquisitionhas crucial importance in the overall data quality. It is incorrectly assumedthat the quality of data is primarily determined by the nature of the analyticalmeasurement methods and the expensive state-of-the-art instrumentationrather by sampling and sampling preparation techniques [10]. The strategy ofair sampling refers to the logistical approach to obtaining a number ofsamples consistent with the desired confidence in the accuracy and reliabilityof the measured concentrations [10]. A wisely constructed strategy of airsampling can optimise the number of samples obtained to capture the desireddata and thus reduce the cost of the sampling program. Some importantconsiderations need to be taken into account to launch any air samplingstrategy: (1) recognition of the need: in the vast majority of cases the need forsampling is not obvious. Ranking of the chemicals agents (ie, more hazardous,those associated with the highest degree of risk, etc., will receivefocus) that need to be sampled should be established. (2) Determination ofthe degree of the problem: probe samples may be obtained to confirm orreject extreme concerns. (3) Obtainment of the sample: more detailsregarding these sampling devices are presented in the next sections. It isimportant to mention that the preparation for sampling involves an analysisof the available analytical methods to ensure that the sampling objective isfulfilled.