TABLE OF CONTENTS Analysis of ambient air is critical to identify pollutants present in the air and to determine their concentrations. These analyses involve several steps that begin with extensive preplanning depending on the objective the foremost being whether the air is indoor and confined or outdoor or atmospheric. Indoor air analysis is usually carried out to ascertain occupational safety in a workplace, to maintain industrial hygiene, or to address possible health-related problems with respect to a specific case history. The monitoring of atmospheric air, in contrast, is usually done year around, especially in urban areas, to measure the extent of air pollution. A comprehensive sampling plan, therefore, is the starting point for air analysis.
The air sampling plan involves determination of proper sites for sampling, and the time, duration, and number of samples to be collected. For outdoor air, weather conditions, topography, humidity, and altitude are the critical factors in selecting sampling sites. A detailed discussion of sampling plans is beyond the scope of this text. Readers interested in further information may refer to the Annual Book of ASTM Standards and Patnaik s Handbook of Environmental Analysis as listed in the Bibliography. Various techniques employed in air sampling, especially pertaining to indoor workplaces and the methods of analysis, are briefly highlighted in this section. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed and validated a number of methods for measuring organic and inorganic pollutants in indoor air. Some of these methods are cited below. Also, the U.S.
