Laboratory evaluation of stain-length passive dosimeters for monitoring of vinyl chloride and ethylene oxide.
The effects of vapor concentration in the range of 1.2 to 5.1 ppm (vinyl chloride) and 8.3 to 29.1 ppm (ethylene oxide) on the response of new stain-length passive dosimeters were evaluated separately in a dynamic exposure chamber. The vinyl chloride dosimeter was prepared with a permanganate impregnated blend of Chromosorb W and silica gel, while a silica gel-coated plastic strip (TLC plate) impregnated with dichromate was used to detect ethylene oxide. The use of a TLC plate as the inert support allowed us to reduce the amount of reagent loaded per length of tube, thus significantly enhancing in the sensitivity of the unit, which was necessary for accurately detecting ethylene oxide at these low concentrations. At the vinyl chloride exposure of 8 ppm-hrs the length of stain was 0.76 cm and the 95% confidence interval about this point was +/- 1.4 ppm-hrs (18%). For the ethylene oxide dosimeter the length of stain at the exposure of 80 ppm-hrs was 0.90 cm and the 95% confidence interval about this point was +/- 16 ppm-hrs (20%). Although some shortening of the stain was noted at low relative humidity (26%) in the vinyl chloride device, no effect on the dosimeter response was observed over the range of relative humidity of 35 to 96%. The ethylene oxide dosimeter response was not affected by relative humidity in the range of 28 to 90%. The use of a TLC plate as the inert support of the colorimetric reagent has proven to be an excellent means of improving the sensitivity of these stain-length passive dosimeters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D014752:Vinyl Chloride / Q000032:analysis*; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D014752:Vinyl Chloride