An Introduction to Sampling for Vapours Part 1

Introduction

Manufacturing processes found across many industrial sectors have the potential to expose workers to harmful dusts, gases and vapours and as a consequence, UK employers must meet the requirements of the CoSHH Regulations¹ and in the US, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)².  Similar legislation exists worldwide, the common theme being an onus on hazard identification, risk assessment and the provision of appropriate control measures. 

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) (some of which are hydrocarbons) are common hazards found in the oil & gas, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, typically released through process leaks but also routinely during plant maintenance. There are a raft of other hazardous chemicals found in diverse manufacturing subsectors ranging from fabricated metal to textiles and furniture but also painting and printing.  VOCs in particular have a significant vapour pressure at normal ambient temperature which means they evaporate (volatilise) at low temperatures and can easily enter the body through normal breathing, so monitoring the workplace air is vitally important. Indeed, if exposure or failure of control measures could lead to exposure limits being breached then exposure monitoring is expressly required. 

High chemical concentrations can pose an immediate (acute) risk to life but repeated exposure to relatively low concentrations can lead to long term (chronic) illnesses, cancers and even hearing loss in the case of ototoxic chemicals such as solvents, nitriles, metals and their compounds.