Diffusive sampling has been a popular approach for the evaluation of workplace exposures to airborne contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for some time. Typically, these “badge-type” samplers (e.g., 3M, SKC) have been used to evaluate exposures in the high part per billion (ppb) to part per million (ppm) range over an 8-hour period. A popular option, these samplers are easy to use, small in size and don’t require a sampling pump.

This approach involves the passive collection of an analyte on a solid sorbent via adsorption or chemical reaction. The sampling rate (e.g., diffusive uptake rate) is a function of the diffusive coefficient, which is compound and sorbent specific, and the geometry of the sampler used. Other factors that affect performance include temperature, pressure, humidity, air velocity and transient changes in contaminant concentrations. Samples are chemically desorbed and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) or by other appropriate instrumentation.

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