Gas and vapor exposure assessment methods

Abstract

Developing methods for making exposure assessment measurements for gases and vapors is a well-developed, active research field. Industry, academia, and government agencies have worked in this field for several decades, resulting in many sampling and analytical methods for gases and vapors for use in occupational, environmental, and indoor air applications. Consensus groups such as the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) have contributed to the standard (methods) bank as well. There is much being done and much remaining to be done in methods development for gases and vapors. Additionally, consideration is now being given to issues like exposure to mixtures (noise and solvent vapors), mixed exposures (asphalt, diesel exhaust), and ethical acceptability--areas that before were, for a variety of reasons, largely ignored. This presentation focuses on method availability for exposure assessment, on research opportunities relative to gas and vapor analytical methods, and on avenues for accomplishing such work, and discusses some of the newer considerations for developing methods for exposure assessment.