Performance testing of the NIOSH charcoal tube technique for the determination of air concentrations of organic vapors

Abstract

The use of the charcoal tube-gas chromatographic method to evaluate workplace air contamination has proliferated greatly in the las 10 years. This report documents early efforts by NIOSH researchers to evaluate several sampling and analytical parameters and their effect on the reliability of the technique. The effects of humidity, sample stability, sample migration and variations in the desorption efficiency are presented. A protocol is suggested for basic testing of the method for new substances.