Personal Formaldehyde Samplers
For 15-minute or 8-hour Measurements

Accurately measure personal workplace exposures PEL: 0.2 to 2 ppm STEL: 0.5 to 6 ppm Easy to use — no technical training required Small and lightweight — less than one ounce No known interferences from other substances The only STEL sampler of its function utilizing NIOSH Method 3500 and validated by OSHA Suitable for office or industrial sampling Proven performance — over 500,000 used Meet OSHA accuracy requirements

526-201 PEL Sampler

Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler Instructions (PDF)

Analysis Instructions Using the Chromotropic Acid Assay Method (PDF)

Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler Product Data Bulletin (PDF)

Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler Validation Report (PDF)

For a listing of Parameters for Laboratory Analysis, see:
526-200 STEL Sampler Parameters and Uptake Rates
526-201 PEL Sampler Parameters and Uptake Rates

The Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler is designed to accurately measure personal exposures to formaldehyde. With accuracies of at least ± 25%, these devices can be used for OSHA compliance monitoring for either eight-hour PELs or 15-minute STELs. The measuring range of the eight-hour PEL sampler is 0.2 to 2 ppm and the range of the STEL sampler is 0.5 to 6 ppm.

The passive sampler works on a simple yet accurate process. A permeable plastic membrane allows for controlled diffusion of air onto a chemically impregnated paper; no liquid reagents are necessary for sampling. Formaldehyde combines with the reactive media (sodium hydrogen sulfite) on the paper and forms the stable compound formaldehyde bisulfite. The sampler is then sent to an accredited laboratory for chromotropic acid analysis.

The Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler is available in two configurations: the PEL Sampler collects formaldehyde at a low rate suitable for full-shift (eight hours) sampling; the STEL sampler collects formaldehyde at a higher rate suitable for 15-minute sampling. The difference between the PEL and STEL models is the size of the membrane; the STEL is 2.7 times larger.

Measuring formaldehyde exposure levels could not be any easier. Simply remove the protective START sticker to expose the membrane and begin sampling. When sampling is complete, seal the sampler with the replacement STOP sticker. Start and stop times, date, and sample ID can also be indicated directly on the sampler. The sampler is small and virtually weightless.

These formaldehyde samplers have been extensively validated to ensure accuracy. There are no known interferences from other substances. Formaldehyde may be accurately measured in the presence of other substances such as phenol, aldehydes, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The shelf-life of an unopened sampler is one year.

Performance Profile

1. Record the date, start time, temperature, and ID number on the badge label.
   
   
2. Clip the sampler on or near the worker's collar.
   
   
3. Peel the START sticker from the front of the badge, exposing the sampling opening.
   
   
4. Allow the worker to wear the sampler for the full exposure period, 15 minutes for STEL and 8 hours for PEL.
   
   
5. Remove the sampler from the worker.
   
   
6. Peel the STOP sticker from the back of the sampler and press it over the sampling opening.
   
   
7. Send the sampler to an accredited laboratory for analysis using the chromotropic acid assay method.
   

Symptoms of formaldehyde exposure include: irritation of the eyes, ears, and throat; excessive thirst; headache; sneezing; shortness of breath; excessive phlegm; and dermatitis. Formaldehyde is an allergen and susceptible persons may become sensitized. It has also demonstrated mutagenic properties in a variety of test systems. It can react with hydrogen chloride to form bis-chloromethyl ether (BCME), a potent animal carcinogen. NIOSH recommends that formaldehyde be handled as a potential occupational carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as carcinogenic. There is sufficient evidence that it causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans.

The OSHA Action Level (AL) is 0.5 ppm (PEL) at which some action should be taken to reduce exposure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde remonitoring must be conducted every six months if an exposure was at or above the Action Level of 0.5 ppm, and every year if exposure was at or above the STEL of 2.0 ppm. Remonitoring must also be conducted if a process change occurs and/or engineering control measures are implemented that may result in new or additional exposure to formaldehyde. 

Manufactured for SKC by Air Quality Research, Inc.

Reference
Boeniger, M., and Stewart, P., "Biological Markers for Formaldehyde Exposure in Mortician Students," Report 1, Documentation of Measurement Methodology for Characterizing Extent of Exposure, Report No. 125.27 NIOSH, May 6, 1992

Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler Instructions (PDF)

Analysis Instructions Using the Chromotropic Acid Assay Method (PDF)

Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler Product Data Bulletin (PDF)

Personal Formaldehyde Passive Sampler Validation Report (PDF)

For a listing of laboratories in the U.S. and Canada that analyze Formaldehyde Passive Samplers, see the 526-Series Formaldehyde Passive Samplers Analytical Laboratories Reference List.

For a listing of Parameters for Laboratory Analysis, see:
526-200 STEL Sampler Parameters
526-201 PEL Sampler Parameters