title: A laboratory evaluation of the accuracy and precision of the photovac snapshot portable gas chromatograph and the Dräger Chip Measurement System monitor for benzene in air measurements.
abstract: A laboratory evaluation of the accuracy and precision of two field instruments, the Photovac Snapshot Gas Chromatograph and the Dräger Chip Measurement System (CMS) Monitor, both capable of specific determination of benzene, was carried out. The evaluation was based on the generation of a test atmosphere of known concentration of benzene in a stainless steel calibration chamber and simultaneous sampling of the test atmosphere by each instrument. At the same time, the chamber atmosphere was continuously monitored by one or two data logging photoionization detector (PID) hydrocarbon analysers. A series of six, 10-minute charcoal tube air samples of the test atmosphere was also collected over the 1-hour run and analyzed by gas chromatography. Nine different concentrations ranging from 0.25 ppm to 8 ppm were used. Accuracy was evaluated using National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria. The Photovac GC consistently met the NIOSH recommended accuracy criteria of +/- 25 percent at or below 1 ppm of benzene, whereas the Drager CMS results generally fell slightly outside this criteria. Compared against less stringent accuracy criteria of +/- 35 percent, all Photovac GC results were acceptable but about 40 percent of Drager CMS results were not. The precision of Photovac GC (CV +/- 10%) is better than Drager CMS (CV = +/- 20% to 40%). Both instruments are, however, good field instruments provided their limitations are taken into account in their use.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Health Laboratory, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D002606:Charcoal; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002606:Charcoal; D001554:Benzene