Industrial Hygiene & Exposure Assessment Flashcards

What type of air sampling is used to measure contaminant concentrations specifically in a worker's breathing zone?

Answer: Personal sampling

Personal sampling places the sampling device in the worker's breathing zone so it travels with the worker, accurately capturing actual individual exposure.

A 'grab sample' in air monitoring is best described as:

Answer: A sample collected over a short, defined time period

A grab sample captures air quality at a specific point in time over a brief collection period, providing a snapshot of instantaneous conditions.

Which sampling media is most commonly used to collect organic vapors for subsequent laboratory analysis?

Answer: Activated charcoal tube

Activated charcoal tubes adsorb organic vapors efficiently; the sample is then desorbed with solvent and analyzed by methods such as GC-MS.

Which instrument provides real-time, direct readings of airborne particulate concentrations without laboratory analysis?

Answer: Direct-reading photometer or optical particle counter

Direct-reading instruments such as photometers and optical particle counters measure light scatter or attenuation to instantly report airborne particulate concentrations.

OSHA's action level for occupational noise exposure, which triggers hearing conservation program requirements, is:

Answer: 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA

OSHA's noise action level is 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA; at or above this level, employers must implement a hearing conservation program.

In biological monitoring, what is being measured to evaluate worker exposure?

Answer: Chemical substances or their metabolites in body fluids or tissues

Biological monitoring assesses the internal dose by measuring chemicals or their metabolites in blood, urine, or exhaled air, reflecting actual absorption.

A colorimetric detector tube works by:

Answer: Producing a visible color change in a reagent as the target gas passes through

Colorimetric detector tubes contain reagents that react with the target substance to produce a color change proportional to the concentration present.