Monitoring dosimeters: passive

Bopp, S., H. Weiss, and K. Schirmer. 2005. Time-integrated monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in groundwater using the ceramic dosimeter passive sampling device. J. Chromatogr. A 1072 137-147. 

Personal monitoring devices (sometimes referred to as "dosimeters") are carried or worn by individuals and are used to measure that individual s exposure to particular chemical(s). Devices that include a pump are called "active" monitors devices that do not include a pump are called "passive" monitors. Such devices are currently used for research purposes. It is possible that sometime in the future they may also be helpful in lAQ investigations in public and commercial buildings. 

In the early 1980s, the whole-body dosimeter (WBD) was introduced as a superior method for passive dermal dosimetry monitoring. A standard protocol was described by the World Health Organization (1982), and Abbott et al. (1987) described some additional options. Chester (1993) reported refinements that permitted exposure estimation by passive dermal dosimetry and biological monitoring simultaneously. 

To meet the need to monitor levels of 222Rn in houses, passive samplers have been developed which measure average concentrations over long periods and do not need power suplies. In the Karlsruhe dosimeter (Urban Piesch, 1981), a polycarbonate nuclear track detector foil is mounted inside a plastic cup. The mouth of the cup is closed with a filter to allow radon to enter but to exclude decay products. After exposure, the detector foil is etched and the tracks counted optically. This is a... 

Gonzalez J, Levine SP. 1986. The development and evaluation of a thermally-desorbable miniature passive dosimeter for the monitoring of organic vapors. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 47 339-346. 

Vo-Dinh T. 1981. A new passive dosimeter for monitoring personnel exposure to polycyclic aromatic vapors. 182nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, New York, NY, August 23-28. 

Pal T, Pal A, Miller GH, et al. 1992. Passive dosimeter for monitoring ammonia vapor. Anal Chim Acta 263(1-2) 175-178. 

For air sampling in industrial settings, personnel mercury vapor samplers rely on a hopcalite filter absorber, followed by chemical treatment and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) analysis. This method requires field and reagent blanks, but has a reported detection limit in the pg m range (Turner and Boggle 1993). A passive diffusion sampler has also been developed as a useful technique for mercury vapor monitoring in the atmosphere and as a personal mercury dosimeter (Kvietkus and Sakalys 1994). 

Benson, G. B., Boyce, G. E. A Thermally-Desorbable Passive Dosimeter for Personal Monitoring of Acrylonitrile, Ann. Occup. Hyg. 24, 55 (1981)... 

Coutant, R. W. Applicability of Passive Dosimeters for Ambient Air Monitoring of Toxic Organic Compounds, Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 410 (1982)... 

Sefton, M. V., Mastracci, E. L., Mann, J. L. Rubber Disc Passive Monitor for Benzene Dosimeter, Anal. Chem. 53, 458 (1981)... 

Besides charcoal, considerable work has been performed on methods using porous polymer sampling tubes and passive dosimeters. In addition, there are several portable gas analyzers and monitoring units available on the open market. 

B. Passive Monitors—Ethylene oxide diffuses into the monitor and is collected in the sampling media. The DuPont Pro-Tek badge collects EtO in an absorbing solution, which is analyzed colorimetrically to determine the amount of EtO present. The 3M 350 badge collects the EtO on chemically treated charcoal. Other passive monitors are currently being developed and tested. Both 3M and DuPont have submitted data indicating their dosimeters meet the precision and accuracy requirements of the proposed ethylene oxide standard. Both presented laboratory validation data to 0.2 ppm (Exs. 11-65, 4-20, 108, 109, 130). 

Manufacturers of enviromnental monitoring and measuring devices have a home in the Instruments Group of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). Their products include fixed and portable air-sampling monitors, gas detector tubes and sampling pumps, passive dosimeters, and other instruments used in general industry, construction, and emergency response. I. i... 

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