Testing/Sampling Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde Sampler For Indoor Air

The SKC 526-100 Indoor Air Formaldehyde Passive Sampler is the only sampling device designed for accurate, cost-effective indoor measurements of low formaldehyde levels in the home, office, or industrial environments over a 5 to 7 day period.

Field validated upon NIOSH Method 3500 by the Indoor Air Quality Program of Berkeley Laboratories, it's the first of its kind requiring no special equipment or trained personnel for sampling, nor liquid reagents. There are no known interferences to the formaldehyde passive sampler, thus formaldehyde may be accurately measured in the presence of other substances such as phenol, aldehydes, and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Features Accurate, inexpensive, small & unobtrusive Convenient passive sampling; no pumps required No known interferences from other substances Designed for long term measurement (5 to 7 days) Validation based upon NIOSH Method 3500 Technical support readily available Proven performance; over 4.1 Million samplers sold

Specifications Minimum Detection Limit: 0.01 ppm Accuracy: ± 15% at 1.0 ppm Shelf Life: Limited. Assembly/Delivery On Demand Size: 3.8 inches (9.7 cm) long

How to Use

• Decide where to hang the sampler. Door jambs or ceilings are ideal locations. For buildings with large indoor area or with more than one floor, use more than one sampler.
• Record the location, start date, and start time on the identification label and place on sampler.
• Uncap the unit and attach the cap to the opposite end of the vial.
• Hang the sampler from the mounting surface (door jamb or ceiling) by pushing the mounting pin through the ribbon and into the mounting surface. Very Important: The sampler must be at least 24 inches away from any wall and away from outside doors and windows.
• Allow the sampler to hang undisturbed for 5-7 days.
• Cap the sampler and record finish time and date on the identification label.
• Mail the sampler to any accredited laboratory from the list provided with the sampler for analysis using the chromotropic acid assay method.

Ordering
Each kit contains 2 samplers, 2 mounting pins, and 2 identification labels. Due to sampling media limited shelf life, purchase is non-refundable. A list of AIHA-accredited laboratories for analyzing Formaldehyde Samplers is supplied with each package, laboratory analysis fees are Not Included.

About Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is commonly found in pressed-wood products such as particleboard, interior-grade plywood, and fiberboard. It is also a major ingredient in urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, adhesives, dyes, inks and medicines and embalming fluids. Formaldehyde can be released into indoor air and, over time, may accumulate to problem levels causing mild to severe health disorders in sensitive individuals. Symptoms of formaldehyde exposure include: irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; excessive thirst; headache; sneezing; shortness of breath; excessive phlegm and dermatitis. Formaldehyde has also demonstrated mutagenic properties, and it can react with hydrogen chloride to form bis-chloromethyl ether (BCME), a potent carcinogen.

Chemical Formula: CH₂O - Also Known As:

Formaldehyde Exposure Standards

On December 4, 1987, the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a comprehensive regulation covering occupational exposure to formaldehyde at 29 CFR 1910.1048. This rule reduced the permissible exposure limits (PELs) to 0.75 part formaldehyde per million parts of air (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), and established a 2 ppm 15-minute short term exposure limit (STEL).

The comprehensive standard also included an "action level" of 0.5 ppm, measured as an 8-hour TWA, and provisions for employee formaldehyde exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, recordkeeping, emergency procedures, preferred methods to control formaldehyde exposure, selection of personal protective equipment, & hazard communication. OSHA's ruling was based upon consideration of new evidence including animal bioassays and epidemiological evidence, and the recognition of formaldehyde as a potential occupational carcinogen and its irritating and sensitizing effects.

Further Information on Passive Sampling of Formaldehyde
Geisling, K.L. and Rappaport, S.M., "A Passive Sampling Device for Determining Formaldehyde in Indoor Air," Environmental International, Vol 8, pp 153-158, 1982.
Sexton, Ken, Kai-Shen, Liu, and Myrto, X. Petreas, "Formaldehyde Concentrations Inside Private Residences: A Mail-Out Approach to Indoor Air Monitoring," Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, Vol 36, No 6, pp 698-704, 1986.

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