Suction methods for assessing contamination on surfaces

Abstract

Suction sampling techniques are widely used to assess particulate contamination levels on domestic and occupational surfaces such as floor coverings, but their use for dermal exposure assessment has, to date, been limited. This paper reviews the sampling techniques commonly employed and summarises the range of sampling efficiencies reported in the literature. As there are an extremely large number of key factors influencing the recovery efficiency of suction sampling devices, it is recommended that controlled experiments are carried out to evaluate the relative significance of these factors, thus allowing inter-comparison of the data generated in field studies. As the range of applications of suction sampling devices is extensive, the harmonisation of sampling protocols is not considered to be a feasible objective.